Fundamental Limits of Coded Caching in Request-Robust D2D Communication Networks.

D2D coded caching, originally introduced by Ji, Caire, and Molisch, significantly improves communication efficiency by applying the multi-cast technology proposed by Maddah-Ali and Niesen to the D2D network. Most prior works on D2D coded caching are based on the assumption that all users will request content at the beginning of the delivery phase. However, in practice, this is often not the case. Motivated by this consideration, this paper formulates a new problem called request-robust D2D coded caching. The considered problem includes K users and a content server with access to N files. Only r users, known as requesters, request a file each at the beginning of the delivery phase. The objective is to minimize the average and worst-case delivery rate, i.e., the average and worst-case number of broadcast bits from all users among all possible demands. For this novel D2D coded caching problem, we propose a scheme based on uncoded cache placement and exploiting common demands and one-shot delivery. We also propose information-theoretic converse results under the assumption of uncoded cache placement. Furthermore, we adapt the scheme proposed by Yapar et al. for uncoded cache placement and one-shot delivery to the request-robust D2D coded caching problem and prove that the performance of the adapted scheme is order optimal within a factor of two under uncoded cache placement and within a factor of four in general. Finally, through numerical evaluations, we show that the proposed scheme outperforms known D2D coded caching schemes applied to the request-robust scenario for most cache size ranges.

Liquid Metal Composites-Enabled Real-Time Hand Gesture Recognizer with Superior Recognition Speed and Accuracy.

Prosthetic hands play a vital role in restoring forearm functionality for patients who have suffered hand loss or deformity. The hand gesture intention recognition system serves as a critical component within the prosthetic hand system. However, accurately and swiftly identifying hand gesture intentions remains a challenge in existing approaches. Here, a real-time motion intention recognition system utilizing liquid metal composite sensor bracelets is proposed. The sensor bracelet detects pressure signals generated by forearm muscle movements to recognize hand gesture intent. Leveraging the remarkable pressure sensitivity of liquid metal composites and the efficient classifier based on the optimized recognition algorithm, this system achieves an average offline and real-time recognition accuracy of 98.2% and 92.04%, respectively, with an average recognition speed of 0.364 s. Thus, this wearable system shows advantages in superior recognition speed and accuracy. Furthermore, this system finds applications in master-slave control of prosthetic hands in unmanned scenarios, such as electrically powered operations, space exploration, and telemedicine. The proposed system promises significant advances in next-generation intent-controlled prosthetic hands and robots.

MicroRNA-141-3p reduces pulmonary hypoxia/reoxygenation injury through suppression of Beclin-1-dependent autophagy.

Alterations in autophagy are involved in pulmonary hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced injury. Here, we intended to explain the function of microRNA-141-3p (miR-141-3p) in regulating autophagy under the H/R condition. Rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) were applied for H/R cell model establishment, followed by tracing of autophagy formation. SIRT1 plays a critical role in controlling the lifespan of yeast, flies, and mice. Interaction between SIRT1 and Beclin-1, an indicator protein for autophagy, and between miR-141-3p and SIRT1 was assayed with their roles in PMVEC injury. Autophagy of PMVECs was activated after hypoxia treatment and further activated after H/R treatment. The binding of miR-141-3p and SIRT1 was verified. In H/R-treated PMVECs, the binding of miR-141-3p and SIRT1 was reduced. Furthermore, SIRT1 acted as a deacetylase to stabilize the Beclin-1 protein, promoting autophagy and PMVEC injury. H/R rat models were established, and in vivo, experiments further confirmed that miR-141-3p regulated autophagy and lung injury in H/R rats through SIRT1/Beclin-1 axis. The current study highlighted that reduced miR-141-3p in H/R-treated PMVECs promoted deacetylation of Beclin-1 by SIRT1, thus causing PMVEC injury.

Prediction of municipal solid waste generation and analysis of dominant variables in rapidly developing cities based on machine learning - a case study of China.

Prediction of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation plays an essential role in effective waste management. The main objectives of this study were to develop models for accurate prediction of MSW generation (MSWG) and analyze the influence of dominant variables on MSWG. To elevate the model's prediction accuracy, more than 50 municipal variables were considered original variables, which were selected from 12 categories. According to the screening results, the dominant variables are classified into four categories: urban greening, population size and residential density, regional economic development and resident income and expenditure. Among the seven machine learning methods, back propagation (BP) neural network has the best model evaluation effect. The R2 of the BP neural network model of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shandong provinces were 0.969, 0.941 and 0.971 respectively. The prediction accuracy of Shandong province (93.8%) was the best, followed by Jiangsu province (92.3%) and Zhejiang province (72.7%). The correlation between dominant variables and the MSWG was mined, suggesting that regional GDP and the total retail sales of consumer goods were the most important dominant variables affecting MSWG. Moreover, the MSWG might not absolutely associate with the population size and residential density. The method used in this study is a practical tool for policymakers on regional/local waste management and MSWG control.

Clinical phenotypes and molecular findings in ten Chinese patients with Kleefstra Syndrome Type 1 due to EHMT1 defects.

BACKGROUND: Kleefstra syndrome type 1 (KS1, OMIM#610253) is a rare autosomal-dominant Mendelian disorder due to heterozygous mutations in the EHMT1 gene or heterozygous deletion of genomic segment of 9q34.3(9qdel). Neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD), intellectual disability (ID) and childhood-onset hypotonia are the well-known phenotypes of KS1. However, these findings were all investigated based on western patients with KS1. METHODS: KS1 patients were diagnosed by genetic tests. The clinical data was collected and the phenotypes were standardized by compared with patients that previously reported. In silico, conservational and protein structural analysis were performed to assessment the missense variants. RESULTS: Ten patients from unrelated families were diagnosed as KS1, who all had NDD and seven of them had global developmental delay (GDD) with significant personal-social disabilities. Among the ten patients, only one (1/10) patient showed neonatal or infantile obesity. The other nine patients were heterozygous variations, including three missense mutations (p.Glu235Gly, p.Asp903Gly, and p.Leu943Pro), three frameshifting mutations (p.Asn1106Lysfs*71, p.Asn1055Tyrfs*121, and p.Lys288Argfs*20), one nonsense mutation (p.Arg246*), one slice site mutation (c.3540+2T > C) and one 9q34.3 deletion in gene of EHMT1. Furthermore, missense mutations showed potential pathogenicity analyzed by in silico. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that the clinical features in Chinese patients with KS1 were due to EHMT1 defects. We also reported seven novel variants which enriched the mutation spectrum and provided a good understanding of the pathogenesis of KS1.

Liquid metal motor.

Liquid metal has demonstrated an enormous potential for developing soft functional devices and machines. However, current liquid metal enabled machines suffer from several issues, such as the requirement of a liquid environment, generation of weak actuating forces, and insufficient maneuverability. To overcome these restrictions, here, a motor is developed based on the electrical actuation of liquid metal droplets without the need for conventional electromagnets. The approach is distinguished by (1) the encapsulation of electrolyte and multiple liquid metal droplets within an enclosed system, and (2) the creation of stable and continuous torque outside a liquid environment. In addition, a liquid metal electrical brush is introduced to operate the motor with low friction and low wear. The unique driving mechanism endows the motor with several advantages, including low friction, no sparking, low noise, versatile working environment, and being built from soft materials that could offer new opportunities for developing soft robotics.

Exploration and Analysis on the Psychological Capital of Entrepreneurship and the Deviant Innovation Behavior of Employees.

This study aims to explore the psychological capital of entrepreneurship and the deviant innovation behavior of employees, thereby providing theoretical support for the implementation of Chinese innovation policy. By analyzing the previous research results, this study used questionnaires to collect the required data for exploration. Two questionnaires were designed: one was a survey for the psychological capital of entrepreneurship, and the other was a survey for deviant innovation behavior of employees. The research results show that the correlation coefficient between entrepreneurial performance and entrepreneurial psychological capital is 0.29, indicating that there is a significant correlation between entrepreneurial psychological capital and entrepreneurial performance; the correlation coefficient between entrepreneurial opportunity ability and entrepreneurial performance is 0.40, indicating that there is a significant correlation between entrepreneurial opportunity ability and entrepreneurial performance; the correlation coefficient between entrepreneurial psychological capital and entrepreneurial opportunity ability is 0.81, indicating that there is a significant correlation between entrepreneurial psychological capital and entrepreneurial opportunity ability. In addition, there are significant correlations between the work values and psychological empowerment of employees, the work values and deviance innovation of employees, and the psychological empowerment and deviance innovation of employees. The scores of psychological empowerment and work values of employees during the period of low emotional intelligence show a downward trend, while the scores of the psychological empowerment of employees increase significantly when they show high emotional intelligence, and the differences are statistically significant. When task interdependence is high, the psychological empowerment and deviance innovation scores of employees are lower, and the difference is statistically significant. For this purpose, this study enriches the research on psychological capital and deviant innovation and provides a reference for the practice of innovation management.

Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharides prevent LPS-induced acute lung injury by inhibiting inflammation via the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB pathway.

Inflammation plays an important role in cases of acute lung injury (ALI), and the Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB (TLR4/NF-κB) pathway, which can be regulated by Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharides (PSPs), is closely related to the dynamics of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation. Thus, we sought to evaluate whether or not PSPs prevent LPS-induced ALI by way of inhibiting inflammation via the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in rats. We established an ALI rat model by tracheal instillation of LPS, and by pre-injection of PSPs into rats to examine PSPs in the ALI rat model. We found that PSPs attenuated LPS-induced lung pathological changes in ALI rats, decreased LPS-induced myeloperoxidase (MOP) activity, and elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in lung tissue. However, PSPs also decreased the LPS-induced increase in the neutrophil ratio, and decreased inflammatory factor levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Moreover, PSPs decreased LPS-induced increases in inflammatory factors measured by mRNA expression, and altered the levels of expression of TLR4, medullary differentiation protein 88 (Myd88), p-IKB-α/IKB-α and p-p65/p65 proteins in lung tissue. In vitro, PSPs also reduced apoptosis induced by LPS in BEAS-2B cells by suppressing inflammation through its effect of inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB pathway. In conclusion, our results suggest that PSPs may be a potential drug for effective treatment of LPS-induced ALI, due to the ability to inhibit inflammation through effects exerted on the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB pathway.

A meta-analysis of bridging anticoagulation between low molecular weight heparin and heparin.

BACKGROUND: Patients with mechanical heart valves (MHV) have an increased risk of thromboembolic complications. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and unfractionated heparin (UFH) are often recommended for bridging anticoagulation; however, it is not clear which strategy is more beneficial. METHODS: The PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched from January 1960 to March 2019. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies were analyzed. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of the studies. Stata 11.0 was used for the meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 6 publications were included; 1366 events were selected, involving 852 events with LMWH and 514 events with UFH. The thromboembolism risk of the LMWH group was lower than that of the UFH group (risk ratio [RR] = 0.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.12-0.95, P = .039). The incidence of major bleeding was lower in the LMWH group than in the UFH group, albeit without statistical significance (RR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.68-1.30, P = .728), as was mortality (RR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.16-1.66, P = .271). Subgroup analysis showed that LMWH cardiac surgery patients had a higher risk of major bleeding compared with UFH cardiac surgery patients (RR = 1.17, 95% CI 0.72-1.90, P = .526); but among non-cardiac surgery patients, the LMWH group had a lower risk of major bleeding than the UFH group (RR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.51-1.22, P = .284), although the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis suggests that LMWH not only reduces the risk of thromboembolism in patients with MHV but also does not increase the risk of major bleeding. LMWH may provide safer and more effective bridging anticoagulation than UFH in patients with MHV. It is still necessary to conduct future randomized studies to verify this conclusion.

Ferulic acid attenuates oxidative DNA damage and inflammatory responses in microglia induced by benzo(a)pyrene.

Over-activation of microglia disrupts the physiological homeostasis of the brain, and induces inflammatory response and other processes which are implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, theoretically, suppression of neuroinflammation would slow the progression of neurodegenerative disease. In this study, we investigated the possible protective effects of Ferulic acid (FA) against benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-induced microglial activation using BV2 cells as the model system. Exposure of BV2 cells to BaP (10 µM) significantly increased DNA damage and the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and cytokines (interleukins-1ß and -6). On the other hand, when BaP-treated BV2 cells were further incubated with FA (10, 20, 40, or 80 mg/mL) for another 24 h, a significant reduction in BaP-induced DNA damage and the release of multiple pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic factors (including interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6, NO, and ROS) was observed in a dose-dependent manner. Further study revealed that the microglial NOD-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) signaling pathway was involved in the protective effect of FA. Taken together, these results suggested that FA suppressed BaP-induced toxicity in microglia, and thus may exert neuroprotective effects by inhibiting microglia-mediated pro-inflammatory response.

[Long-term outcome and related factors of epileptic seizures in children].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the Long-term outcome of seizures, and to explore the effects of related factors, including the age at onset, types of epileptic syndromes, and etiological factors, etc. METHODS: The clinical data were retrospectively surveyed from 265 children with regular follow-ups for over 1 year at Peking University First Hospital (Jan. 2003 to Dec. 2006). The seizure-free rate was calculated as an at least one-year non-occurrence of seizures. The Long-term outcome of seizures was analyzed in association with factors including the age at onset, types of epileptic syndromes, and etiology. RESULTS: (1) Seizure types were clarified in all the cases, with combined types of seizures in 17. Epileptic syndromes were identified in 163/265 cases (61.5%). With regular antiepileptic drug therapy, 57.9% children with epilepsy could be seizure-free. (2) Seizure-free was demonstrated in 142/265 cases with a seizure-free rate of 53.6% in this group. (3) The age at onset was youngest in the non-efficacy group. (4) The seizure-free rate was different by syndrome types of epilepsies, with a higher seizure-free rate in idiopathic generalized epilepsy (72.4%) and benign epilepsy in children with centro-temporal spikes (65.5%), whereas a lowest rate (21.7%) in infantile spasms. (5) A significant difference of seizure-free rates was revealed in different etiological groups. Children with idiopathic epilepsy achieved higher seizure-free rate (69.2%) than those with symptomatic and cryptogenic epilepsy (45.4%). CONCLUSION: The epilepsy children with regular antiepileptic drug therapy had generally satisfactory outcome of seizures, with over half cases of seizure-free. The prognosis was demonstrated to be closely related with the etiological factors, syndrome types and age at onset.