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Energy efficiency is one of the most important issues for large-scale server systems in current cloud computing. the main method about the power-performance tradeoff by fixing one factor and minimizing the other, from the perspective of optimal load distribution. However, there still exist several main challenges about Energy efficiency due to the complexities of real cloud computing application scene. The paper adopts machine learning theory to save energy consumption by decrease redundant computation for high energy-efficiency cloud computing environment. give the typical k-means and Page Rank applications, the Experiments show that the presented algorithm can save power consumption apparently. The research combines the machine learning theory and distributed technology, and presents a creative way to challenged problems in energy-efficiency cloud.

Background: Endoscopic stenting to manage malignant hilar biliary obstruction has no consensus regarding the optimal stenting strategy. In this multicenter study, we compared transpapillary parallel‐style bilateral metal stenting with bilateral plastic stenting, and evaluated short‐ and long‐term outcomes. Methods: We recruited 262 consecutive patients (Bismuth classification types II–IV) who underwent either bilateral metal or plastic stenting as primary therapy at four tertiary centers. To overcome selection bias, we performed 1:1 propensity score matching. Our primary outcome was overall survival. Results: After propensity score matching, each group comprised 96 patients, with no significant differences in any baseline characteristics. The median survival was significantly longer in the metal stenting group than in the plastic stenting group (7.2 months [95% CI 6.0–8.5] vs. 4.1 months [95% CI 2.9–5.3]; P = 0.015). The clinical success rates were significantly higher in the metal stenting group than in the plastic stenting group (99.0% vs. 71.9%, respectively; P < 0.001), and lower post‐procedure cholangitis incidence (7.3% vs. 26.0%; P < 0.001), longer median symptom‐free stent patency (9.2 months [95% CI 7.6–10.6] vs. 4.8 months [95% CI 4.2–5.3]; P < 0.001), and fewer total interventions (1.3 ± 0.6 vs. 2.0 ± 1.4; P < 0.001). In multivariate Cox analysis of the overall survival, metal stenting (HR 0.589, P = 0.002), hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HR 0.419, P = 0.009), and adjuvant treatment (HR 0.596, P = 0.006) were independent predictors of death. Conclusions: Endoscopic therapy using bilateral metal stenting is superior to bilateral plastic stenting, with prolonged overall survival, higher clinical success, and longer stent patency in patients with advanced hilar biliary malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High energy efficiency with high performance, low energy consumption, and QoS support is one of the research challenges in cloud computing. According to this issue, the current studies trade off the three aspects o£ the issue by fixing one factor and optimizing the others, which lack an efficient energy efficiency calculation method and evaluation model that integrate the three aspects and describe the "degree" of the energy efficiency better. A QoS parameters reduction approach and a weighted energy efficiency model are proposed, which introduce the system performance as a key indicator into QoS, reduce the discrete QoS parameters into a unified dimension, establish the energy efficiency classification levels of the cloud data centers, describe the energy efficiency as a qualitative concept, and realize the energy efficiencys qualitative evaluation in cloud computing environments. Besides, the energy efficiencies of the cloud data centers in single-machine, homogenous, and heterogeneous cloud computing environments are evaluated, and experimental results show that the proposed energy efficiency model and evaluation method are effective for evaluating the QoS level and energy consumption in cloud computing environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking an early-season indica cultivar 'Jiazao 935'whose grain quality was sensitive to temperature as test material, and by using artificial climatic chamber and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR), this paper studied the relative expression amount and its dynamic changes of ten isoform genes of the key enzymes controlling starch synthesis and metabolism in rice grain endosperm, including sbe1, sbe3, and sbe4 of starch branching enzyme (SBE), isa1, isa2, isa3, and pul of starch debranching enzyme (DBE), and Wx, sss1, and sss2a of starch synthase (SS), at the mean daily temperature 22 and 32°C after anthesis. There existed obvious differences in the expression patterns of these genes under the high temperature stress, and the expression pat- terns were isoform-dependent. The relative expression amount of sbe1 and sbe3 under high tempera- ture decreased significantly, and both of the genes were the sensitive isoform genes of SBE to high temperature stress. Among the DBE genes, pul was the isoform gene with high expression level, be- ing more sensitive to high temperature stress than isa1, isa2, and isa3. Among the SS genes, sss2a had a significantly lower relative expression amount than sss1 and Wx, but sss2a and sss1 were more sensitive to high temperature than Wx, suggesting that sss2a and sss1 could be the important genes that adjusted the starch structure in rice endosperm under high temperature stress, especially at the middle and late grain filling stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digested piggery wastewater(DPW) contains high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus which could be used as a cost-effective culture medium for Spirulina platensis . However, Spirulina platensis would be limited by many factors in the complex composition of DPW, especially the high concentration of ammonium. In this paper, a traditional sequencing batch reactor(SBR) was used to remove these inhibitors in DPW. The retention of nitrate and nitrite in the effluent, which was used as nitrogen source for cultivating Spirulina platensis , was studied at different ratios of chemical oxygen demand(COD) to total nitrogen(TN) in the influent. By comparing the growth of Spirulina platensis in the related effluents, the operation condition of SBR was optimized. The lab-scale cultivation results showed that Spirulina platensis possessed a high biomass yield of 0.084 g·(L·d) -1 in the effluent when the COD/TN ratio of SBR influent was 3.0. In particular, the concentrations of ammonium, nitrate and nitrite in the effluent were 51.2 mg·L -1 , 91.6 mg·L -1 and 213.1 mg·L -1 , respectively. Furthermore, the aforementioned effluent was also used to culture Spirulina platensis in a 120 L outdoor raceway pond, and the growth rate of Spirulina platensis reached(0.075±0.003)g·(L·d) -1 after 10-day culture. The protein content of Spirulina platensis was approximately 60% and the removal efficiency of ammonium was 99%. This study provides an alternative method for the utilization of DPW.

Background and Study Aim: We previously reported on a plastic stent that was coated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and sodium cholate, which dissolved common bile duct (CBD) stones ex vivo. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of such stents on biliary stones in a live porcine model., Methods: Stents without coating or with degradable membranes containing 0 % or 50 % EDTA and sodium cholate were inserted together with human CBD stones into the porcine CBD. Serum laboratory variables, histological examinations of the bile duct, and the weight change in stones were compared during and after stent placement for 6 months., Results: A total of 16 pigs were included (5 no coating, 5 0 % coating, 6 50 % coating). Biliary stones showed decreased weight in all groups; however, stones in the group with 50 % coated stents showed a greater reduction in weight compared with the no coating and the 0 % coating groups (269 ± 66 mg vs. 179 ± 51 mg [P = 0.09]; 269 ± 66 mg vs. 156 ± 26 mg [P = 0.01], respectively)., Conclusions: The plastic stent coated with 50 % agent enhanced CBD stone dissolution in vivo and may be a promising tool for patients with difficult biliary stones., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background: Endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) using a plastic stent is suggested to be as effective as endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) with a nasobiliary catheter for temporary biliary drainage in acute obstructive cholangitis. However, there are few studies that have compared the two methods. We therefore compared the safety and effectiveness of endoscopic biliary decompression by nasobiliary catheter versus plastic stent placement in these patients., Methods: A total of 94 screened patients with acute obstructive cholangitis were randomised to undergo emergency endoscopic biliary drainage with ENBD (n = 47) or ERBD (n = 47). Clinical outcomes and adverse events were compared., Results: Patient backgrounds were similar in the two groups. Endoscopic biliary drainage was successfully achieved in all patients. Eleven patients underwent unscheduled endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to replace the nasobiliary catheter, 10 due to a catheter (1 in the ENBD group) or stent (9 in the ERBD group) blockage and 1 due to catheter migration. Clinical manifestations were similar, however, there was a significantly lower patient discomfort score in the ERBD group (p <0.05). The mean serum gamma-glutamyltransferase and total bilirubin concentrations after ERCP were significantly higher in the ERBD than ENBD group (p <0.001). Complication rates were similar in the ENBD and ERBD groups. However, the incidence rate of blockage in ERBD was statistically higher than ENBD (p = 0.015)., Conclusions: Endoscopic biliary decompression is an effective treatment for patients with acute obstructive cholangitis. In contrast to other studies, we found an increased rate of blockage in the ERBD group and a greater decrease in liver enzyme levels in the ENBD group.

Taking an early-season indica cultivar 'Jiazao 935' whose grain quality was sensitive to temperature as test material, and by using artificial climatic chamber and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR), this paper studied the relative expression amount and its dynamic changes of ten isoform genes of the key enzymes controlling starch synthesis and metabolism in rice grain endosperm, including sbe1, sbe3, and sbe4 of starch branching enzyme (SBE), isal, isa2, isa3, and pul of starch debranching enzyme (DBE), and Wx, sss1, and sss2a of starch synthase (SS), at the mean daily temperature 22 and 32 degrees C after anthesis. There existed obvious differences in the expression patterns of these genes under the high temperature stress, and the expression patterns were isoform-dependent. The relative expression amount of sbe1 and sbe3 under high temperature decreased significantly, and both of the genes were the sensitive isoform genes of SBE to high temperature stress. Among the DBE genes, pul was the isoform gene with high expression level, being more sensitive to high temperature stress than isa1, isa2, and isa3. Among the SS genes, sss2a had a significantly lower relative expression amount than sss1 and Wx, but sss2a and sss1 were more sensitive to high temperature than Wx, suggesting that sss2a and sss1 could be the important genes that adjusted the starch structure in rice endosperm under high temperature stress, especially at the middle and late grain filling stages.

Air cathode microbial fuel cell (MFC) were investigated for electricity production from sweet potato fuel ethanol wastewater containing 5000 mg/L of chemical oxygen demand (COD). Maximum power density of 334.1 mW/m2, coulombic efficiency (CE) of 10.1% and COD removal efficiency of 92.2% were approached. The effect of phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and COD concentration on the performance of MFC was further examined. The addition of PBS from 50 mmol/L to 200 mmol/L increased the maximum power density and CE by 33.4% and 26.0%, respectively. However, the COD removal efficiency was not relative to PBS concentration in the wastewater. When the COD increased from 625 mg/L to 10 000 mg/L, the maximum value of COD removal efficiency and the maximum power density were gained at the wastewater strength of 5 000 mg/L. But the CE ranged from 28.9% to 10.3% with a decreasing trend. These results demonstrate that sweet potato fuel ethanol wastewater can be used for electricity generation in MFC while at the same time achieving wastewater treatment. The increasing of PBS concentration can improve the power generation of MFC. The maximum power density of MFC increases with the rise of COD concentration, but the electricity generation will decrease for the acidification of high wastewater concentration.

Objective: To explore the change of the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in Shanghai Bao-Steel Company population., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of all employees undergoing health examination biennially from 1995 to 2002. Overweight and obesity were respectively diagnosed when body mass index (BMI) > or = 24 kg/m2 but still less than 28 kg/m2 and > or = 28 kg/ m2. SPSS 11.5 and SAS of statistical software were used for data analysis., Results: During the period studied, in 59 131 times of medical check-up, 27.1% participants received four times check-up, 26.6% thrice and 24.0% twice. After adjusted by sex and age, the total prevalence rates of overweight and obesity increased from 26.50% and 4.10% to 34.60% and 7.70% between 1995 to 1996 and 2001 to 2002, respectively. After adjusted by age, the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in men increased from 28.20% and 4.20% to 37.90% and 8.40%; less significantly in women from 19.60% and 3.70% to 21.10% and 5.20%. Among men, the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in men younger than 60 years old increased along with time. While in women, only the overweight prevalence in women younger than 30 years old and the obesity prevalence in women between 50 years old and 60 years old increased along with time, with unchanged prevalence in other age sub-group., Conclusion: The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity have been growing rapidly in Bao-Steel Company employees, primarily in middle-aged and young men, who should be paid more attention.

Objective: To explore the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) signaling pathway, insulin receptor substrates (IRSs) and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) expressions in livers in a rat model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)., Methods: Rats fed a fat-rich diet for 4 weeks were randomly allocated into two groups; the model group rats (n = 12) were fed a high-fat diet alone and the PTX group rats (n = 12) were fed a high-fat diet plus PTX (100 mg x kg(-1)/d(-1)) in drinking water. Meanwhile, rats (n = 6) fed a standard diet from the start served as controls. All the rats were sacrificed at the end of the 24th week. Hepatic NF-kappaB binding activity was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha and inhibitor kappaB (IkappaBalpha) proteins in livers were determined by Western blot. Messenger RNA of IRS-1, IRS-2 and GLUT2 expressions were examined by RT-PCR., Results: NF-kappaB binding activity was higher in the model group than that in the controls, while it was lower in the PTX group compared with that in the model group. The expression of TNFalpha protein was markedly increased in the model group (vs. the control group) but decreased in the PTX group (vs. the model group). The expression of IkappaBaalpha protein was decreased in the model group (vs. the control group) but increased in the PTX group (vs. the model group) to a certain extent. IRS-2 mRNA expression was markedly increased in the model group, and significantly decreased in the PTX group when compared with the model group (P less than 0.01)., Conclusions: PTX could influence NF-kappaB signaling pathway and IRS expression in livers of NASH rats, which might be involved in the improvement of hepatic insulin resistance.

Objectives: To explore the changes of hepatic gene expression during the course of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development in rats., Methods: A rat model of NAFLD was developed by feeding the animals a high-fat diet for 24 weeks. Liver tissues of the model rats and the control rats were analyzed at different time points using rat U230A (Affymetrix GeneChip), which covers 15650 genes., Results: Compared with the control rats, the number of genes expressed differently in the model group rats at 4 and 8 weeks was 426 and 540. The up-regulated genes among them were intracellular phosphorylase genes, metabolic enzyme genes, fatty acid binding protein genes, cytochrome P450 genes, cellular transcription and differentiation genes. The down-regulated genes were ionic channel genes, hormone receptor genes, and cytoskeleton genes. At the 12th week, the number of the genes expressed differently was 501, in which 352 were up-regulated genes, including genes related to inflammation and apoptosis such as interleukin and Toll-like receptor 4. At the 16th week, the number of the differently expressed genes was 665, with 430 up-regulated, such as those related to the inflammation and apoptosis genes and collagen I and fibrosis genes, however cell regeneration genes were down-regulated. At the 24th week the number was 663, of which fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor and insulin-like growth factor genes were up-regulated. Of all the differently expressed genes, the number of up-regulated genes was 128, including 10 lipogenic genes, 46 metabolic genes, 15 inflammation genes, 10 apoptosis genes, and 16 fibrosis genes; and the down-regulated genes were 52, including 6 hormone receptor genes, 5 cell regeneration genes and 11 electron transport genes., Conclusion: The changes of the hepatic gene expression of rats fed a fat-rich diet are related to the duration of the feeding, and are correlated with their histopathology in the livers.