First Evidence of Thalassochory in the Ficus Genus: Seed Dispersal Using the Kuroshio Oceanic Current.

AIM: Plants distributed between southern Taiwan and the north of the Philippines are spread among numerous small islands in an area crossed by the powerful Kuroshio current. Oceanic currents can be effective seed-dispersal agents for coastal plant species. Moreover, the Luzon Strait is an area prone to tropical cyclones. The aim of this study is to look at the dispersal capability of an endangered coastal plant species, the Mearns fig (Ficus pedunculosa var. mearnsii), using both experimental and population genetics methods. LOCATION: Southern Taiwan, the Philippines, and the islands between Luzon and Taiwan Island. METHODS: This study combined two types of analysis, i.e., buoyancy experiments on syconia and double digest restriction-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD), to analyze the population genetics of the Mearns fig. RESULTS: We first discovered that mature Mearns fig syconia could float in seawater. They have a mean float duration of 10 days to a maximum of 21 days. Germination rates varied significantly between Mearns fig seeds that had undergone different durations of flotation treatment. Population genetic analysis shows a high degree of inbreeding among various Mearns fig populations. Moreover, no isolation by distance was found between the populations and individuals. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: From our analysis of the genetic structure of the Mearns fig populations, we can clearly highlight the effect of the Kuroshio oceanic current on the seed dispersal of this fig tree. Comprehensive analysis has shown that Mearns fig seeds are still viable before the mature syconium sinks into the seawater, and so they could use the Kuroshio Current to float to the current population locations in Taiwan.

Optimal Consensus with Dual Abnormality Mode of Cellular IoT Based on Edge Computing.

The continuous development of fifth-generation (5G) networks is the main driving force for the growth of Internet of Things (IoT) applications. It is expected that the 5G network will greatly expand the applications of the IoT, thereby promoting the operation of cellular networks, the security and network challenges of the IoT, and pushing the future of the Internet to the edge. Because the IoT can make anything in anyplace be connected together at any time, it can provide ubiquitous services. With the establishment and use of 5G wireless networks, the cellular IoT (CIoT) will be developed and applied. In order to provide more reliable CIoT applications, a reliable network topology is very important. Reaching a consensus is one of the most important issues in providing a highly reliable CIoT design. Therefore, it is necessary to reach a consensus so that even if some components in the system is abnormal, the application in the system can still execute correctly in CIoT. In this study, a protocol of consensus is discussed in CIoT with dual abnormality mode that combines dormant abnormality and malicious abnormality. The protocol proposed in this research not only allows all normal components in CIoT to reach a consensus with the minimum times of data exchange, but also allows the maximum number of dormant and malicious abnormal components in CIoT. In the meantime, the protocol can make all normal components in CIoT satisfy the constraints of reaching consensus: Termination, Agreement, and Integrity.

The diagnosis of pneumonia in renal transplant recipients using invasive and noninvasive procedures.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: We used invasive and noninvasive procedures to determine the causes of pneumonia in renal transplant recipients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively surveyed 565 renal transplant recipients (transplants received March 1984 to August 2001) to find those with pneumonia. Noninvasive diagnostic methods included serologic testing, and blood and sputum cultures with stains. Invasive procedures included fiberoptic bronchoscopy and percutaneous transthoracic procedures. RESULTS: A total of 92 patients were enrolled. Of these, 71 patients had a definite etiologic diagnosis of pneumonia. The major infectious pathogens were bacterial (n = 21) and mixed bacterial infection (n = 10), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) [n = 18], and fungi (n = 8). Noninvasive and invasive procedures led to the diagnosis of pneumonia in 31.5% (n = 29) and 45.6% (n = 42) of patients, respectively. Bronchoscopy was used in 64 patients, with a diagnostic yield of 38 cases (59.3%). Patients were 3.62 times more likely to contract pneumonia within 12 months of renal transplantation than they were > or =12 months thereafter (95% confidence interval, 1.33 to 9.84). Twenty-seven of the 92 patients (29.3%) died. The pneumonia mortality rate has dropped significantly since 1996 (41.8% vs 10.8%, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Both invasive and noninvasive procedures are useful in the diagnosis of pneumonia, with declining mortality, in renal transplant recipients. Bacterial and mixed bacterial infection, TB, and fungal infection are the most common pathogens; cases are most likely to occur within 1 year after renal transplantation.