Elastic Provisioning of Network and Computing Resources at the Edge for IoT Services.

The fast growth of Internet-connected embedded devices demands new system capabilities at the network edge, such as provisioning local data services on both limited network and computational resources. The current contribution addresses the previous problem by enhancing the usage of scarce edge resources. It designs, deploys, and tests a new solution that incorporates the positive functional advantages offered by software-defined networking (SDN), network function virtualization (NFV), and fog computing (FC). Our proposal autonomously activates or deactivates embedded virtualized resources, in response to clients' requests for edge services. Complementing existing literature, the obtained results from extensive tests on our programmable proposal show the superior performance of the proposed elastic edge resource provisioning algorithm, which also assumes an SDN controller with proactive OpenFlow behavior. According to our results, the maximum flow rate for the proactive controller is 15% higher; the maximum delay is 83% smaller; and the loss is 20% smaller compared to when the non-proactive controller is in operation. This improvement in flow quality is complemented by a reduction in control channel workload. The controller also records the time duration of each edge service session, which can enable the accounting of used resources per session.

Does the Self-Myofascial Release Affect the Activity of Selected Lower Limb Muscles of Soccer Players?

Myofascial therapy has already become one of the basic forms of treatment of the locomotor system. One form of the therapy is Self-Myofascial Release, in which external force is applied to the body with the help of special rollers (foam rolling, FR). The aim of the study was to investigate the direct effect of Self-Myofascial Release of hamstring muscles using a foam roller on the bioelectric activity of selected muscles (biceps femoris and gluteus maximus) during squats. The study involved 40 male soccer players, who were randomly divided into two groups: experimental and control. The tests used did not show significant differences in the analyzed variables before the experiment (baseline measurement p > 0.05), while significant intergroup differences appeared for subsequent measurements, both for reference MVC values (p < 0.01 - for % gluteus maximus MVC, p < 0.001 - for % biceps femoris MVC) and for raw EMG values (p < 0.01 gluteus maximus and p < 0.001 - for % 0.0001 for biceps femoris). The use of self-myofascial release within the hamstring muscles leads to changes in the electrical potential of the muscles of the lower limb.

Autogenous Biofabrication of Nativelike, Scaffold-Free Human Skin Equivalents Using a Smart, Enzyme-Degradable Tissue Templating Coating.

In this study, we used tissue templating technology to direct human dermal fibroblasts to biofabricate large-area tissues that closely emulate the natural dermis. This technology also allowed the new tissues to promote their own release from the template surface, thus facilitating their recovery as self-sustained, scaffold-free dermal equivalents solely comprising human cells and their own extracellular matrix. The structure and composition of these dermal self-lifting autogenous tissue equivalents (SLATEs) were evaluated in detail and were shown to closely correlate to normal tissue function. Specifically, dermal SLATEs were shown to be composed of a dense collagen-based matrix interwoven with dermal-characteristic elastic fibers. In addition, the mechanical properties of these tissues (i.e., robustness, elastic modulus, and resistance to contraction and enzymatic degradation) were comparable to those of the natural human dermis. Furthermore, dermal SLATEs were capable of constituting tissues with a higher-order complexity by serving as a substrate to support the growth of keratinocytes into stratified epithelia with distinct layers of differentiation. This work thus illustrates the great potential of tissue templating technologies and how these can pave the way for the biofabrication of easily retrievable, scaffold-free human skin tissues with a structure, composition, and function suitable for both clinical and nonclinical applications.

Impact of lowering ski binding settings on the outcome of the self-release test of ski bindings among female recreational skiers.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The ability to successfully self-release the ski binding can prevent skiing-related injuries of the lower extremities. Failure of binding release associated with a knee injury is significantly higher among females compared to males. The International Standards Organization ISO 11088 standard for binding setting values allows a lowering by 15% upon request of the skier. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of lowered ski binding settings by 15% on the outcome of the self-release test among female recreational skiers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized single-blinded study, a cohort of 20 females (24.5±2.7 years) performed the self-release test in the laboratory thrice with each leg under two conditions: 1) with an actual ISO 11088 setting and 2) with a setting lowered by 15%. For each attempt, torques calculated via the force plate were normalized to torques measured by a binding adjustment system (relative release torque, RRT). RESULTS: Among 240 trials in total, more females were significantly able to self-release their ski bindings with lowered binding settings when compared to their actual ISO settings (53% vs 9%, p<0.001). Thirteen females (65%) were able to release their bindings at least once with both legs with lowered binding settings compared to only three females (15%) with their actual binding settings (p<0.001). Mean RRT of all failure of binding release trials significantly differed between lowered and actual binding settings (58.6%±22.2% vs 50.5%±20.4%, p=0.003). CONCLUSION: Four times more females were able to self-release their ski bindings at least once with both legs with a 15% lowered binding setting compared to their normal ISO 11088 setting. The fact that the ISO standard accepts a lowering by 15% upon request of the skier could represent an important measure to prevent knee injuries, especially for female recreational skiers.

Template Curvature Influences Cell Alignment to Create Improved Human Corneal Tissue Equivalents.

To accurately create corneal stromal equivalents with native-like structure and composition, a new biofunctionalized, curved template is developed that allows the precise orientation of cells and of their extracellular matrix. This template is the first demonstration that curvature alone is sufficient to induce the alignment of human corneal stromal cells, which in turn are able to biofabricate stromal tissue equivalents with cornea-like shape and composition. Specifically, tissues self-released from curved templates show a highly organized nanostructure, comprised of aligned collagen fibrils, significantly higher expression of corneal stroma-characteristic markers keratocan, lumican, decorin, ALDH3, and CHST6 (p = 0.012, 0.033, 0.029, 0.003, and 0.02, respectively), as well as significantly higher elastic modulus (p = 0.0001) compared with their planar counterparts. Moreover, curved tissues are shown to support the growth, stratification, and differentiation of human corneal epithelial cells in vitro, while maintaining their structural integrity and shape without any supporting carriers, scaffolds, or crosslinking agents. Together, these results demonstrate that corneal stromal cells can align and create highly organized, purposeful tissues by the influence of substrate curvature alone, and without the need of additional topographical cues. These findings can be important to further understand the mechanisms of corneal biosynthesis both in vitro and in vivo.

Developing a Continuous Bioprocessing Approach to Stromal Cell Manufacture.

To this day, the concept of continuous bioprocessing has been applied mostly to the manufacture of molecular biologics such as proteins, growth factors, and secondary metabolites with biopharmaceutical uses. The present work now sets to explore the potential application of continuous bioprocess methods to source large numbers of human adherent cells with potential therapeutic value. To this purpose, we developed a smart multifunctional surface coating capable of controlling the attachment, proliferation, and subsequent self-detachment of human corneal stromal cells. This system allowed the maintenance of cell cultures under steady-state growth conditions, where self-detaching cells were continuously replenished by the proliferation of those remaining attached. This facilitated a closed, continuous bioprocessing platform with recovery of approximately 1% of the total adherent cells per hour, a yield rate that was maintained for 1 month. Moreover, both attached and self-detached cells were shown to retain their original phenotype. Together, these results represent the proof-of-concept for a new high-throughput, high-standard, and low-cost biomanufacturing strategy with multiple potentials and important downstream applications.