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Recent encryption schemes are not sensitive enough to plain-images, which leads to low robustness and easy vulnerability to attacks. By employing chaotic maps and Cellular Automata, a novel image encryption algorithm is proposed in this work to increase the sensitivity to plain-images and improve security. Firstly, initial values of the two-dimensional Logistic-Sine-Coupling Map and the Logistic-Sine-Cosine Map are calculated by the SHA-256 of the original image, and the process of diffusion is conducted. Secondly, the key matrices are produced by iterating chaotic maps in the process of permutation. The diffused image is scrambled by the index matrices, which are produced by sorting every row or column of the key matrices. Finally, the scrambled image is transformed into cipher-image by using Cellular Automata. Experimental results and theoretical analysis show that the proposed scheme has good security as it can effectively resist various attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protecting digital images is crucial, and image encryption schemes based on chaotic systems have been extensively studied where image permutation is a critical process. The updating processes of particle swarm optimization algorithm have the ability to change the rules of particles motion, and it can be employed to permutate image. In this work, an image encryption scheme based on the updating processes of particle swarm optimization algorithm and hyperchaotic system is proposed. Specifically, a key generation mechanism combined with secure hash algorithm 256 hash is first introduced to generate the initial values of hyperchaotic complex Lü system. Then, the plain image is confused by the position and velocity updating processes of particle swarm optimization algorithm. In addition, an adaptive diffusion mechanism is designed and applied to the confused image to obtain the final cipher image. Simulation results and security analysis show that the proposed scheme exhibits good performance of sophisticated dynamic behavior, high sensitivity to key, and effectively resisting the typical cryptanalysis attacks, and provides an alternative to real-time image encryption application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud computing has been one of the disruptive technologies to change the traditional application operation for the last decades. The success of Cloud boosts ever more newly-built data centers. Although these data centers are distributed all around the world, the computing resources are managed in a relatively centralized manner within one big data center. For a specific small area, the centralized Cloud lacks the dispersion to satisfy the requirements of collaborative applications, e.g., the nearest data center might still be too far to satisfy the network latency. Through spreading the computing resources at the edge of the network, the emerging Edge computing can complete the data processing before uploading to Cloud. However, Edge computing still stays at the conceptual and experimental stage. Trust and incentive model are missing to motivate the Edge node and micro Cloud owners to share the computing infrastructure resources for building a more generalized and decentralized ecosystem. Traditional method of building trust through authority is not applicable in current edge environment, which is more like peer-to-peer relationship between the customer and provider. To tackle this issue, ALLSTAR is proposed, which is a blockchain-based approach to enhance the trust for equally combining all the Cloud and Edge resources to be seamlessly leveraged by the application. The ALLSTAR approach is a systematic solution to realize decentralized resource management, including Cloud and Edge resource sharing and trading, and target at building the trustworthy ALLSTAR ecosystem. In this paper, we first analyze the challenges of utilizing distributed Cloud and Edge resources, and describe the overall architecture of ALLSTAR, including the related key techniques, detailed application development and operations processes as well as the new business model. Moreover, an empirical study on the permissioned blockchain evaluation is conducted. The study not only demonstrates the ALLSTAR approach is feasible but also provides insights of which blockchain to choose when constructing such an ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud computing systems are splitting compute- and data-intensive jobs into smaller tasks to execute them in a parallel manner using clusters to improve execution time. However, such systems at increasing scale are exposed to stragglers, whereby abnormally slow running tasks executing within a job substantially affect job performance completion. Such stragglers are a direct threat towards attaining fast execution of data-intensive jobs within cloud computing. Researchers have proposed an assortment of different mechanisms, frameworks, and management techniques to detect and mitigate stragglers both proactively and reactively. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of straggler management techniques within large-scale cloud data centres. We provide a detailed taxonomy of straggler causes, as well as proposed management and mitigation techniques based on straggler characteristics and properties. From this systematic review, we outline several outstanding challenges and potential directions of possible future work for straggler research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone formation (osteogenesis) is mediated through recruitment of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with capacity to differentiate into osteoblasts, a process which is regulated by transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Multiple studies have suggested that miRNAs might have important roles in osteoblast differentiation. Expressions of miR-34a were detected by qRT-PCR. Cellular glucose metabolism was assessed by measurements of glucose uptake and lactate production. mRNA expressions of glycolysis enzymes were detected by qRT-PCR. Osteogenic differentiation of human MSCs (hMSCs) was analyzed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and Alizarin red staining. Here, we report that microRNA-34a is upregulated during the osteoblast differentiation from hMSCs. miR-34a overexpressing inhibited late osteoblast differentiation of hMSCs in vitro. The ALP activity and Alizarin red staining were significantly decreased by miR-34a in hMSCs. Target prediction analysis reveals that the lactate dehydrogenase-A (LDHA) is a potential target of miR-34a. We hypothesized that miR-34a inhibits osteoblast differentiation through targeting the LDHA-mediated cellular glycolysis. Results from Western blotting and luciferase assay validated that miR-34a could directly target 3′UTR of LDHA mRNA. In addition, we demonstrated that overexpression of miR-34a inhibits cellular anaerobic glycolysis through targeting LHDA. The protein and mRNA expressions of glycolysis enzymes, Hexokinase 2 (HK2), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), and LDHA were significantly downregulated by miR-34a overexpression in hMSCs. Furthermore, we showed that LDHA restoration in miR-34a overexpressing hMSCs successfully rescued the osteoblast differentiation of hMSCs. This study demonstrated the roles of miR-34a in regulating osteoblast differentiation, suggesting that miR-34a inhibition could be a new therapeutic strategy for improving bone formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Classic theory test has been used to develop and validate the 25-item Resilience Scale Specific to Cancer (RS-SC) in Chinese patients with cancer. This study was designed to provide additional information about the discriminative value of the individual items tested with an item response theory analysis.Methods: A two-parameter graded response model was performed to examine whether any of the items of the RS-SC exhibited problems with the ordering and steps of thresholds, as well as the ability of items to discriminate patients with different resilience levels using item characteristic curves.Results: A sample of 214 Chinese patients with cancer diagnosis was analyzed. The established three-dimension structure of the RS-SC was confirmed. Several items showed problematic thresholds or discrimination ability and require further revision.Conclusions: Some problematic items should be refined and a short-form of RS-SC maybe feasible in clinical settings in order to reduce burden on patients. However, the generalizability of these findings warrants further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up until 2009, 2541 nature reserves had been established in China. However, the process of developing this system of nature reserves was not quite smooth. Various kinds of information related to nature reserves, such as annual growth, the type of nature reserves established, motives behind building a nature reserve, legal instructions and the constitution of government sectors, were collected and analyzed in order to highlight the characteristics of the development of our nature reserve system. As a result, we identify three phases and their characteristics, i.e., the initial phase from 1956 to 1978, the establishment phase from 1979 to 1996 and the management standardization phase from 1997 to 2009, could be clearly identified. It is suggested that since the establishment of this comprehensive structural framework in China, the system should be entering a new developing phase. We recommend that more attentions should be paid on how to guarantee effective management and how nature reserves are able to maintain their value and fulfill their objectives in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: To examine the effect of a Chinese medicinal herbal formula (Feitai Capsule, 肺泰胶囊) on the quality of life (QOL) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Sixty-two patients were randomly divided into the treatment group (31 cases) and the control group (31 cases). For the treatment group, 4 capsules (1.2 g/capsule) of Feitai Capsule were administered 3 times a day after meals for 3 weeks; then no drug was administered for 1 week. This schedule was continued for at least 3 more cycles (12 weeks totally). If there were no obvious toxic reactions, the treatment was extended. The patients were evaluated at least once every 8 weeks until progressive disease (PD). For the control group, the regular follow-up and evaluation were performed at least once every 8 weeks until PD. Clinical symptoms, objective response, physical constitution and energy, QOL, and PFS were evaluated regularly. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), a non-parametric test, and analysis of covariance were used to compare clinical features, amelioration of clinical symptoms, physical constitution and energy, and QOL. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the two-group PFS. Results: Sixty patients finished the final evaluation, with 30 patients in each group. Baseline characters between groups were not significantly different ( P>0.05). The control group had a 36.7% improvement in clinical symptoms, while the treatment group had a 73.3% improvement. This difference was statistically significant ( Z= −2.632, P=0.008). The control group had a 26.7% improvement in the Karnofsky performance status (KPS), while the treatment group had a 53.4% improvement. This was also significantly different ( Z=−2.182, P=0.029). A comparative analysis indicated a positive correlation ( r=0.917, P<0.001). Compared with the control group, QOL in the treatment group was significantly improved, except in the social/family condition and doctor-patient relationship indicators. The PFS of the treatment group and control group were 6.23 months and 4.67 months, respectively ( P=0.048). Conclusion: Feitai Capsule, a Chinese medicinal herbal treatment could improve the QOL and extend the PFS of the unresectable NSCLC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZrAlNiCu amorphous powder was synthesized by mechanical alloying. The effect of SiN addition on the crystallization behavior of the alloy during sintering process was studied. Thermal stability of the powders was performed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The phase and microstructure of the powders and bulk specimens sintered were determined by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that, introducing 0.05% (mass fraction) SiN can enhance the crystallization activation energy of the ZrAlNiCu amorphous powders, which indicates that SiN addition has hindrance effect on forming crystals from ZrAlNiCu amorphous powder. However, 0.10% SiN results in the decrease of the crystallization activation energy, which makes its crystallization process easy to occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the findings of a clinical study on the treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using the Shenqi mixture combined with microwave coagulation, conducted by Lin Jian-jun, Jin Chang-nan et al. The ultrasonic vectoring microwave coagulator was used to apply microwave coagulation to patients. On the second day of treatment, severe right upper abdominal pain appeared in 2 patients in the treated group. The decrease of cellular immunity in organisms is related to the development of HCC.

The growth-promoting effect of Id-1 (inhibitor of differentiation/DNA binding) has been demonstrated in a number of human cancers. However, the mechanisms responsible for its action are not clear. In this study, we report that in prostate cancer cells, Id-1 promotes cell survival through activation of nuclear factor-?B (NF-?B) signalling pathway. After stable expression of Id-1 protein in LNCaP cells, we found that the Id-1 transfectants showed increased resistance to apoptosis induced by TNFa through inactivation of Bax and caspase 3. In addition, in the LNCaP cells expressing ectopic Id-1 protein, we also observed increased NF-?B transactivation activity and nuclear translocation of the p65 and p50 proteins, which was accompanied by upregulation of their downstream effectors Bcl-xL and ICAM-1. These results indicate that the Id-1-induced antiapoptotic effect may be via NF-?B signalling transduction pathway in these cells. In addition, inactivation of Id-1 by its antisense oligonucleotide and retroviral construct in DU145 cells resulted in the decrease of nuclear level of p65 and p50 proteins, which was associated with increased sensitivity to TNFa-induced apoptosis. Our results strongly suggest that Id-1 may be one of the upstream regulators of NF-?B and activation of NF-?B signalling pathway may be essential for Id-1 induced cell proliferation through protection against apoptosis. Our findings also suggest a potential therapeutic strategy in which inactivation of Id-1 may lead to sensitization of prostate cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drug-induced apoptosis.Oncogene (2003) 22, 4498-4508. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1206693 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The helix–loop–helix protein Id-1 has been suggested to play a positive role in cell proliferation and tumorigenesis of many types of human cancers. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism involved in the function of Id-1. In this study, using four stable Id-1 transfectant clones, we investigated the involvement of MAPK signaling pathway in the Id-1 induced serum independent prostate cancer cell growth. Our results demonstrated that both transient and stable ectopic Id-1 expression in prostate cancer LNCaP cells led to activation of the Raf/MEK1/2 signaling pathway. In addition, inhibition of MEK1/2 phosphorylation by one of its inhibitors, PD098059, resulted in the decreased cell cycle S phase fraction and cell growth rate, suggesting that activation of MAPK signaling pathway is essential for Id-1 induced prostate cancer cell proliferation. Furthermore, treatment with antisense oligonucleotide complementary to Id-1 mRNA in PC-3 and DU145 cells resulted in a decreased Id-1 expression which was accompanied by decreased Egr-1 protein. Our results suggest for the first time that the function of Id-1 is associated with MAPK signaling pathway activation and indicate a possible novel mechanism in which Id-1 regulates prostate cancer cell growth and tumorigenesis.Oncogene (2002) 21, 8498–8505. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1206007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although proteinase inhibitor proteins are known to confer insect resistance in transgenic plants, their endogenous roles remain undefined. Here, we describe the expression of a proteinase inhibitor II (PIN2) protein from Solanum americanum in phloem of stems, roots and leaves suggesting a novel endogenous role for PIN2 in phloem. The phloem consists of parenchyma cells, sieve elements (SE), and companion cells (CC) which are in close association with SE. We isolated two cDNAs encoding PIN2, SaPIN2a and SaPIN2b, from a S. americanum cDNA library using a tomato PIN2 cDNA as hybridization probe. SaPIN2a shows 73.6% identity to SaPIN2b. Southern blot analysis confirmed that two genes occur in S. americanum. Northern blot analysis showed that both are wound-inducible and are expressed in flowers. Unlike SaPIN2b and other previously characterized plant PIN2 proteins, SaPIN2a is abundantly expressed in stems. In situ hybridization studies on stem sections showed that SaPIN2a mRNA is expressed in CC and some SE, likely the immature developing SE, of external and internal phloem. Western blot analysis using SaPIN2a-specific antibodies showed SaPIN2a accumulation in stems, leaf midribs and fruits. Immunohistochemical localization, using these antibodies, revealed SaPIN2a expression in external and internal phloem of stem. Immunoelectron microscopy of stem, root and leaf sections further localized SaPIN2a to the CC and predominantly to the SE, particularly the parietal cytoplasm adjacent to the cell wall, the lumen and the sieve-area pores. These results suggest that, other than a possible role in plant defense, SaPIN2a could be involved in regulating proteolysis in the SE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To study the frequency and angiographic findings of arteriovenous shunts (AVS) associated with adult cavernous hemangiomas of the liver (CHL) on hepatic artery digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and optimize the imaging technique of DSA to improve its diagnostic efficacy.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 43 intraarterial DSA procedures performed on 30 adults with CHL. Of the 30 patients 22 were found to have an AVS. Transcatheter arterial embolization with Lipiodol (L-TAE) was performed on 21 of these and radiographs were taken immediately after embolization to observe the distribution of the injected iodized oil. The results were compared with those of the AVS found on DSA images.Results: AVS were identified by DSA in 22 (73.3%) of 30 patients. All AVS were located in the peritumoral liver tissue and had a parallel track appearance, or early filling of small draining veins during the arterial phase of DSA. Radiographs taken immediately after L-TAE in 21 of the 22 cases with AVS showed iodized oil filling a few portal branches or draining veins as a result of incompletely occluded shunts in 11 patients. In 10 patients there was complete occlusion and no filling of any vein, or only the originating end of draining veins filled with iodized oil. No evidence of AVS was found in the other eight patients in this series, and in six of these the DSA was not considered diagnostic.Conclusion: The present study indicates that AVS are frequently seen in adults with CHL. DSA with high-quality images is helpful in identifying small AVS of CHL. The formation of an AVS in CHL may be closely related to the pathological changes in the peritumoral liver tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]