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An efficient scheme of virtual machine image dissemination, which takes up a major portion of VM provisioning time, is key to ensuring that the service can be provisioned and delivered to clients in a timely manner. This paper presents a novel peer-to-peer protocol to efficiently distribute virtual machine images in a cloud data center. The primary idea of our proposal is to expedite the peer-to-peer content delivery by taking advantage of a high level of similarity that oftentimes exists among different VM images. The efficacy of our protocol is validated through an evaluation that demonstrates substantial performance gains over existing approaches.

Erin Parisi is attempting to become the first trans* person to ascent the highest mountain on each of the seven continents, through her project TranSending 7. Erin seeks to create alternative trans* narratives that are based on the possibility of positive futures, as opposed to negative tropes of a limited life from the decision to transition. Multiple semi-structured interviews were conducted with Erin to understand her experiences and how narratives she hopes to present, not only impact upon her own sense of self, health and well-being but also present opportunities for others. Data were analysed via "reflexive" thematic analysis. Analysis highlights for Erin a paradox for many trans* people in moving from one closet to another, where being "invisible" as a trans* person is the ultimate goal. Erin's desire to shape positive trans* narratives acknowledge the gendering practices that take place within the climbing community and a sense of her having to 'earn the right to climb'. Erin's endeavours demonstrate an alternative way individuals can be situated 'in the sunshine' between these two spaces, where personal growth is not only possible but rich, meaningful, and progressive. In drawing upon theoretical concepts informed by possible selves theory, this research seeks to untangle the gendered space of the mountain for shaping positive and transformational trans* narratives for individuals positioned within these gendered boundaries. It also seeks to identify stronger and more positive possible futures for other trans* people and youth.

Despite the recent phenomenal success of peer-to-peer video streaming services, their stumbling performance for high-quality videos remains a major obstacle to wider acceptance. This is because high-resolution videos instantly delivered over the Internet are increasingly becoming the norm. This paper presents a novel solution to keep up with ever more challenging QoE expectations. Our proposal of a hybrid push-pull protocol consists of two key components, namely, a new push strategy and an elastic window scheme. The former empowers the hybrid protocol to make an informed push-pull decision based on chunk status and network condition, whereas the latter ensures balance between the two conflicting goals of chunk dissemination and playback deadline. The efficacy of the proposed protocol is validated through a performance study that demonstrates substantial gains compared to existing approaches.

This paper presents a novel semantic overlay scheme that connects peers based on the similarity of their contents. Semantic closeness among overlay peers can effectively be determined via the exchanges of their content summary using Bloom filters. The overlay link quality is further improved by carefully selecting semantic neighbors according to their potential to contribute to content-based searches. The basic idea behind the semantic neighbor selection is that highly replicated documents should not excessively dominate the overlay topology, overshadowing rare to modestly-replicated items whose query efficiency is often more critical for overall search performance. The efficacy of the proposed semantic overlay is validated through our simulation study which demonstrates superior overlay link quality and query routing performance.

Abstract Mis- and disinformation pose substantial societal challenges, and have thus become the focus of a substantive field of research. However, the field of misinformation research has recently come under scrutiny on two fronts. First, a political response has emerged, claiming that misinformation research aims to censor conservative voices. Second, some scholars have questioned the utility of misinformation research altogether, arguing that misinformation is not sufficiently identifiable or widespread to warrant much concern or action. Here, we rebut these claims. We contend that the spread of misinformation—and in particular willful disinformation—is demonstrably harmful to public health, evidence-informed policymaking, and democratic processes. We also show that disinformation and outright lies can often be identified and differ from good-faith political contestation. We conclude by showing how misinformation and disinformation can be at least partially mitigated using a variety of empirically validated, rights-preserving methods that do not involve censorship.

Jung-Hee Jang,1,&ast; Hyeong Joon Jun,2,&ast; ChaYoung Lee,3,&ast; Eunjin Sohn,4 Ojin Kwon,1 Dong-Hoon Kang,3 Muhammad Umar,2,5 In Chul Jung,3 Soo-Jin Jeong4 1Korean Medicine Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; 2Korean Medicine Data Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; 3Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; 4Korean Medicine Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; 5Korean Convergence Medical Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Soo-Jin Jeong, Korean Medicine Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, 34054, Republic of Korea, Tel +82-42-868-9651, Email sjijeong@kiom.re.kr In Chul Jung, Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon, 34520, Republic of Korea, Tel +82-42-470-9000, Email npjeong@dju.krPurpose: We aimed to investigate the efficacy of a combined herbal formula and electroacupuncture (EA) for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a neurodegenerative disease leading to dementia, and its underlying mechanisms of action.Patients and Methods: This was a prospective open-label observational pilot study at Daejeon Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University in South Korea from March 2022 to March 2023. We included six Korean patients (50% male) aged ≥ 45 years and < 85 years with MCI, a clinical dementia rating score of 0.5, and a Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Korea (MoCA-K) score ≤ 22. The exclusion criterion was impaired cognitive function. Patients received combined therapy, including a herbal formula and EA, for 12– 24 weeks. We prescribed the herbal formulas Gamiguibi-tang, Yukmijihwang-tang, and Banhasasim-tang to the patients for at least 70% of the treatment period, in combination with EA. Moreover, we investigated changes in cognitive and cognition-related symptoms and cytokine expression in the blood following combined traditional medicine therapy. At baseline and after 12 and 24 weeks, we administered the MoCA-K and cognitive-related questionnaires. We analyzed network pharmacology to reflect the herbal formula intervention mechanism comprehensively.Results: The median score [interquartile range] of MoCA-K at baseline was 19.5 [16.0, 22.0], which improved significantly (24.5 [24.0, 26.0], p < 0.01) over 24 weeks following combined therapy. We obtained no significant conclusion regarding cytokine changes due to the small sample size. In network pharmacology, we analyzed the brain, head, heart, peripheral nerves, peripheral nervous system, and pancreas as the enriched organs from the common targets of the three herbal formulas.Conclusion: Combined herbal medicine and EA improved cognitive function in patients with MCI. We assume the underlying mechanism of herbal formulas to be antioxidative and anti-inflammatory changes in cytokine expression. Combined traditional medicine has potential therapeutic application in preventing MCI progression to dementia.Plain Language Summary: This was a single-centered study focusing on the therapeutic effect of combined herbal medicine and electroacupuncture in patients with mild cognitive impairment, including a small number of participants, a relatively long treatment intervention of 12 weeks, and a follow-up assessment of 24 weeks. The intervention was a combination of a herbal formula and electroacupuncture treatment customized for each participant. The blood cytokine analyses of the participants were compared with the network analysis of the predicted target organs and pathways for the herbal formulas administered. Because each participant was not given the exact same intervention, we were unable to identify the specific treatment that produced the predicted effect. The observational study design of the study limited the ability to accurately assess causation between intervention and outcome. However, combined traditional medicine has potential therapeutic application in preventing mild cognitive impairment progression to dementia.Keywords: network pharmacology, inflammation, combination treatment, dementia

Abstract Three years after SARS-CoV-2 emerged as a global infectious threat, the virus has become endemic. The neurological complications such as depression, anxiety, and other CNS complications after COVID-19 disease are increasing. The brain, and CSF have been shown as viral reservoirs for SARS-CoV-2, yielding a potential hypothesis for CNS effects. Thus, we investigated the CNS pharmacology of orally dosed nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (NMR/RTV). Using both an in vitro and an in vivo rodent model, we investigated CNS penetration and potential pharmacodynamic activity of NMR. Through pharmacokinetic modeling, we estimated the median CSF penetration of NMR to be low at 18.11% of plasma with very low accumulation in rodent brain tissue. Based on the multiples of the 90% maximal effective concentration (EC90) for SARS-CoV-2, NMR concentrations in the CSF and brain do not achieve an exposure level similar to that of plasma. A median of only 16% of all the predicted CSF concentrations in rats were > 3xEC90 (unadjusted for protein binding). This may have implications for viral persistence and neurologic post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 if increased NMR penetration in the CNS leads to decreased CNS viral loads and decreased CNS inflammation.

Background: The Teacher-Student relationship (TSR) is instrumental for young children and adolescents' socio-emotional development and wellbeing as well as academic engagement and progress. Aims: The primary aim of this study was to test the psychometric properties, including reliability and factorial, convergent, and predictive validity, of the Teacher-Student Relationship Quality Questionnaire (TSRQ-Q) with two samples of students. Sample(s): Participants were 294 students from secondary schools in the East Midlands and the East of England. Participants were separated into two samples; those who completed the TSRQ-Q with their physical education teacher in mind (n = 150 students) and those who completed it with their mathematics teacher in mind (n = 144 students). Method: A multi-section questionnaire comprised of the TSRQ-Q and other validated measures was completed on one occasion by students in both samples to assess their perceptions of the quality of the TSR, positive and negative affect, intrinsic motivation, physical self-concept, enjoyment, and perceived competence. Results: In both samples, the TSRQ-Q demonstrated good internal consistency, factorial, convergent, and predictive validity. The quality of the TSR had both direct and indirect effects through positive affect on student outcomes in mathematics and physical education. Conclusions: The TSRQ-Q is a valid measure for assessing students' perceptions of the quality of the relationship with their teacher. The conceptual and practical significance of this unique relationship was reflected by its dual pathway effect on a range of student outcomes and via influencing students' positive affect in the classroom.

Aims: It is recognized that laser printed paper are difficult to deink using conventional method. This had lead to the suggestion of enzymatic approach to overcome the problem encountered by commonly employed deinking techniques. The present study aimed to investigate 7 commercially available enzymes for their suitability use in deinking of laser printed paper. Methodology and results: 3 cellulases, hemicellulases, xylanase and 2 lipases were used in enzymatic deinking of laser-printed wastepaper. Cellulase A “Amano”3 (C), Hemicellulase (H) and lipase (L) were selected for used in deinking because they possess either highest activity or broad pH stability compared to others enzymes. Different combination of enzymes was carried out to evaluate their effectiveness in deinking process. CH enzymes sequence was determined to be the most effective sequence in toner removal with 1.90% of brightness increment. However, only 0.95% of brightnessincrement was gained by enzyme sequence L. Highest deinking efficiency obtained was not proportional to the highest total reducing sugar produced. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Enzyme (cellulase and hemicellulase) can be used to de-ink laserprintedwastepaper, which are difficult to be deinked by conventional chemical deinking process. Thus, enzyme deinking has high possibility as alternative method to current chemical deinking process which is not environmental friendly.

Aims: Enzyme (cellulase) contributes 10% to overall cost in bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass. This means that the cost for bioethanol production will be reduced if cellulase can be produced using cheaper method. Compared with submerged fermentation, it is recognized that the cost for cellulase production using solid state fermentation (SSF) process is much cheaper. The present study aimed to optimize cellulase production via SSF process using agro-industrial residual as substrate.Methodology and result: Newly developed solid state bioreactor, FERMSOSTAT had been evaluated in cellulase production using local isolate Aspergillus niger USM AI 1 grown on sugarcane baggase and palm kernel cake as substrates at 1:1 (w/w) ratio. Under optimized SSF conditions of 0.5 kg substrate; 70% (w/w) moisture content; 30 °C; aeration at 4 L/h.g fermented substrate for 5 min and mixing at 0.5 rpm for 5 min, about 62.6 U/g of CMCase activity obtained. At the same time, comparative studies of the enzyme production under the same SSF conditions indicated that CMCase produced by Trichoderma reesei was about 9% lower compared with A. niger USM AI 1.Conclusion, significance and impact of study: It can be concluded that the performance of newly developed SSF fermenter is good since it can used to produce CMCase enzyme with reasonable good title (863% increased in CMCase production after optimization). Thus, this newly developed SSF bioreactor has highly potential be used as prototype for larger scale bioreactor design.

This study examines the effects of various dimensions of transformational (i.e., charismatic leadership, intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation, individual consideration) and transactional (i.e., contingent reward, and active management by exception) leadership on employee engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, this study explored moderating effects of generational differences (including Generation Z, Generation Y, Generation X) on the relationships between leadership and employee engagement. Based on a sample of 546 employees of three different generations, the findings of the multiple regression analysis showed mixed findngs. Implications and future directions for this study were discussed.