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.

Bicluster and Pathway Enrichment Analysis of HCV-induced Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Cheng, Peng,Cheng, You,Su, Mei X.,Li, Dong,Zhao, Guo Z.,Gao, Hui,Li, Yan,Zhu, Jie Y.,Li, Hua,Zhang, Tao Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.8

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the most common form of liver cancer. However, while it is associated frequently with hepatitis C virus (HCV) there is only an elementary understanding of its molecular pathogenesis. Methods: To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms of HCV-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, we performed microarray analysis on 75 surgical liver samples from 48 HCV-infected patients. Results: There were 395 differentially expressed geness between cirrhotic samples and HCC samples. Of these, 125 genes were up-regulated and 270 genes were down-regulated. We performed pathway enrichment analysis and screened as described previously. Conclusions: The differentially expressed genes might be involved in hepatocarcinogenesis through upregulating the pathways of ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion, cell adhesion molecules and other cancer-related pathways, and downregulating the pathways of "complement and coagulation cascades". We hope our results could aid in seeking of therapeutic targets for HCV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma.

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.

Cordycepsmilitaris polysaccharide triggers apoptosis and G0/G1 cell arrest in cancer cells

Cheng Chen,Mei-LinWang,Chao Jin,Huijuan Chen,Shao-Hui Li,Shu-Ying Li,Xing-Fan Dou,Jun-Qiang Jia,Zhong-Zheng Gui 한국응용곤충학회 2015 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.18 No.3

Although many studies have shown the antitumor properties of Cordyceps militaris (artificial cultivated from Bombyx mori pupa) polysaccharides, little is known regarding the mechanism of its effects. This study was conducted to determine the mechanism of antitumor effects of C. militaris polysaccharide extract by evaluating apoptosis rate and cell cycle progression status in human liver cancer cell SMMC-7721, stomach cancer cell BGC-823 and breast cancer cell MCF-7. Results showed that C. militaris polysaccharides inhibited proliferation of SMMC-7721, BGC-823 and MCF-7 cells with an IC50 of 192 ± 23.2 μg/mL, 237 ± 12.7 μg/mL and 165 ± 16.3 μg/mL, respectively. We also found that C. militaris polysaccharides at increasing concentrations induced apoptosis dose dependently in those cancer cells: apoptosis rates were 48.3%, 59.4% and 70.9% for SMMC-7721, 41.3% and 57.0%, 72.2% for BGC-823 and 61.3%, 66.9% and 80.6% for MCF-7 at 110, 156 and 323 mg/mL of C. militaris polysaccharides, respectively. C. militaris polysaccharides arrested SMMC-7721, BGC-823 and MCF-7 cells at G0/G1 and G2/M phases with corresponding decrease in S-phase. This study suggests that C. militaris polysaccharides may exert its antitumor effects in those cancer cells by suppressing its growth, arresting the G0/G1-phase, reducing DNA synthesis and inducing apoptosis.

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

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.

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.

Numerical Simulation Study on the Seismic Performance of Prefabricated Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Beam–Column Joints With Grouted Sleeve Connections

Mei-Ling Zhuang,Jinsheng Cheng,Dongsong Fei,Chuanzhi Sun,Zhenbo Wang,Baodong Chen,Yan Qiao 한국콘크리트학회 2024 International Journal of Concrete Structures and M Vol.18 No.4

Based on the available experimental data, fiber models for four prefabricated fiber-reinforced concrete beam–column joint specimens with grouted sleeve connections are first developed in OpenSees software. Then, the simulated seismic performance of the specimens is compared with the experimental results. Finally, the effects of axial load ratio and shear-to-span ratio on the seismic performance of the specimens are further investigated numerically. The results indicate that Concrete02 material model and Reinforcing Steel material model can accurately simulate the constitutive relationship of concrete and reinforcing steel, respectively; the beam–column joint elements can accurately simulate different damage behaviors of the joint zone. Fiber-reinforced concrete can significantly improve the seismic performance of the specimens. The relative errors of the simulated seismic performance indexes are about 15%. It is recommended that the optimum value of shear-to-span ratio for prefabricated FRC BCJs is 2.0–2.5. The effect of axial load ratio on the seismic behavior of PBCJs-CM is very small, and can be negligible in the case that the prefabricated FRC BCJs has a moderate value of shear-to-span ratio. The fiber model developed in this article can provide a numerical simulation basis for subsequent studies of prefabricated fiber-reinforced concrete beam–column joint specimens with grouted sleeve connections.

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.