Unlimited Resources Research Articles

Adaptation of Parallel SaaS to Heterogeneous Co-Located Cloud Resources

Cloud computing has received increasing attention due to its promise of delivering on-demand, scalable, and virtually unlimited resources. However, heterogeneity or co-location of virtual cloud resources can cause severe degradation of the efficiency of parallel computations because of a priori unknown application-specific performance metrics, load imbalance, and limitations of memory bandwidth. This paper presents the runtime adaptation of parallel discrete element method (DEM) Software as a Service (SaaS) to heterogeneous or co-located resources of the OpenStack cloud. The computational workload is adapted by using weighted repartitioning and runtime measured performance of parallel computations on Docker containers. The high improvement in performance up to 48.7% of the execution time is achieved, applying the runtime adapted repartitioning when the load imbalance is high enough. The low load imbalance leads to the close values of computational load, when small variations in the system load and performance can cause oscillations in subsets of particles. Memory stress tests cause heterogeneity of non-isolated containers, which reduces the performance of memory bandwidth bound DEM SaaS on the co-located resources. The runtime adapted repartitioning handles the constant and periodically variable performance of non-isolated containers and decreases the total execution time of DEM SaaS.

Grouping Maintenance Policy for Improving Reliability of Wind Turbine Systems Considering Variable Cost

Wind farms have gained wide attention due to unlimited resources and clean energy. Considering that wind turbine systems are always in harsh conditions, subsystem failures could reduce the reliability of wind turbine systems. At present, the maintenance behaviors for wind turbine systems are various (e.g., corrective maintenance, preventive maintenance) when reliability is reduced below the threshold. Considering the maintenance cost and downtime, it is impossible to repair each component in a timely manner. One of the key problems is dividing components into maintenance groups to improve maintenance efficiency. In this paper, a grouping maintenance policy considering the variable cost (GMP-VC) is proposed to improve direct-drive permanent magnet (DPM) turbine systems. Grouping modes are proposed to fully consider the stated transition probability of turbine components and the variable cost of turbine systems. A maintenance model is formulated to select components as members of the group based on a RIM-VC index. An instance is given to verify the proposed GMP-VC method. The result indicates that the proposed maintenance policy may save maintenance costs over baseline plans.

Efficient generation of induced pluripotent stem cell lines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) have been widely considered as a more convenient and almost unlimited reprogramming resource, while the reprogramming procedure and efficiency still need to be improved. We reprogrammed the PBMCs by using non-integrative non-viral vectors liposome electrotransfer containing the reprogramming factors OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC. The iPSC lines exhibited a normal karyotype with their corresponding PBMCs and exhibited significant cellular pluripotency. Teratoma formation assay revealed that the iPSCs we generated could differentiate into three embryonic germ layers. Our study provides a more effective procedure for peripheral blood monocyte reprogramming to iPSC, and promotes its future application.

Optimal metabolic strategies for microbial growth in stationary random environments

In order to grow in any given environment, bacteria need to collect information about the medium composition and implement suitable growth strategies by adjusting their regulatory and metabolic degrees of freedom. In the standard sense, optimal strategy selection is achieved when bacteria grow at the fastest rate possible in that medium. While this view of optimality is well suited for cells that have perfect knowledge about their surroundings (e.g. nutrient levels), things are more involved in uncertain or fluctuating conditions, especially when changes occur over timescales comparable to (or faster than) those required to organize a response. Information theory however provides recipes for how cells can choose the optimal growth strategy under uncertainty about the stress levels they will face. Here we analyse the theoretically optimal scenarios for a coarse-grained, experiment-inspired model of bacterial metabolism for growth in a medium described by the (static) probability density of a single variable (the ‘stress level’). We show that heterogeneity in growth rates consistently emerges as the optimal response when the environment is sufficiently complex and/or when perfect adjustment of metabolic degrees of freedom is not possible (e.g. due to limited resources). In addition, outcomes close to those achievable with unlimited resources are often attained effectively with a modest amount of fine tuning. In other terms, heterogeneous population structures in complex media may be rather robust with respect to the resources available to probe the environment and adjust reaction rates.

Moisture-Enabled Germination of Heat-Activated Bacillus Endospores for Rapid and Practical Bioelectricity Generation: Toward Portable, Storable Bacteria-Powered Biobatteries.

Small-scale battery-like microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a promising alternative power source for future low-power electronics. Controllable microbial electrocatalytic activity in a miniaturized MFC with unlimited biodegradable energy resources would enable simple power generation in various environmental settings. However, the short shelf-life of living biocatalysts, few ways to activate the stored biocatalysts, and extremely low electrocatalytic capabilities render the miniature MFCs unsuitable for practical use. Here, heat-activated Bacillus subtilis spores are revolutionarily used as a dormant biocatalyst that can survive storage and rapidly germinate when exposed to special nutrients that are preloaded in the device. A microporous, graphene hydrogel allows the adsorption of moisture from the air, moves the nutrients to the spores, and triggers their germination for power generation. In particular, forming a CuO-hydrogel anode and an Ag2 O-hydrogel cathode promotes superior electrocatalytic activities leading to an exceptionally high electrical performance in the MFC. The battery-type MFC device is readily activated by moisture harvesting, producing a maximum power density of 0.4mW cm-2 and a maximum current density of 2.2mA cm-2 . The MFC configuration is readily stackable in series and a three-MFC pack produces enough power for several low-power applications, demonstrating its practical feasibility as a sole power source.

Predicting bladder cancer risk in patients with hematuria. A single-centre retrospective study

The presence of blood in the urine should be promptly investigated to rule out urological malignancies, bladder cancer being the most frequent. Given its frequency among general population and the lack of unlimited health resources in an era of cost-effectiveness, it is important to prioritize patients with higher risk of malignancy. To identify predictive factors of bladder cancer among patients presenting with hematuria. We retrospectively reviewed 296 cases referred to our department for hematuria. We evaluated different demographic, clinical and ultrasound features to uncover possible associations with diagnosis of bladder cancer in those patients, to estimate the individual risk of being diagnosed with bladder cancer during the investigation of hematuria. A total of 296 patients were studied for hematuria between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2019, 23.6% of those having ultimately bladder cancer confirmed after transurethral resection. Older age, male gender (OR 2.727, p = 0.069), a history of smoking (OR 3.84, p < 0.05), recurrent hematuria (OR 3.396, p < 0.05) and positive ultrasound exam for bladder cancer (OR 30.423, p < 0.05) were identified as predictors of bladder cancer in patients with hematuria. This study suggests that it is possible to reliably estimate the risk of bladder cancer in patients with hematuria, using clinical and imaging data to help defining who should be investigated first and in whom the investigation could be postponed.

Identification of surfactin as an anti-severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus multi-target compound extracted from the culture broth of marine microbes

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a tick-borne virus first identified in China in 2011 and later reported in other Asian countries. Significant efforts have been made to develop anti-SFTSV compounds; however, there are no approved vaccines or antivirals against SFTSV infections. Marine organisms provide nearly unlimited biological resources to produce therapeutic drugs for the treatment and control of disease. In this study, we aimed to identify anti-SFTSV chemical compounds from the culture broth extracts of marine microbes collected from the coasts of the Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Of the 80 extracts, two showed an anti-SFTSV effect. One of them, which exhibited low cell toxicity, was used for further characterization. Chemical analysis combined with the anti-SFTSV effect identified surfactin as one of the main components of the selected extract. Our study showed a proof-of-concept to identify novel antiviral compounds from marine microbes against the virus of interest. Further analysis showed that surfactin affected the integrity of the virion membrane and inhibited SFTSV infection-induced membrane fusion at low pH conditions. Furthermore, surfactin inhibits the post-entry step of viral replication in the cell, which is a novel mode of antiviral action of surfactin. These results indicate that surfactin can target multiple steps of SFTSV replication in cells.

Immortalized B Cells Transfected with mRNA of Antigen Fused to MITD (IBMAM): An Effective Tool for Antigen-Specific T-Cell Expansion and TCR Validation

Peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMCs) are the most widely used study materials for immunomonitoring and antigen-specific T-cell identification. However, limited patient PBMCs and low-frequency antigen-specific T cells remain as significant technical challenges. To address these limitations, we established a novel platform comprised of optimized HLA-matched immortalized B cells transfected with mRNA of a prototype viral or tumor antigen conjugated to MHC class-I trafficking domain protein (MITD) to increase the efficiency of epitope expression in antigen-presenting cells (APCs) essential to expanding antigen-specific T cells. When applied to CMV as a model, the IBMAM platform could successfully expand CMV-specific T cells from low-frequency CMV PBMCs from seropositive donors. Additionally, this platform can be applied to the validation of antigen specific TCRs. Together, compared to using APCs with synthesized peptides, this platform is an unlimited, highly efficient, and cost-effective resource in detecting and expanding antigen-specific T cells and validating antigen-specific TCRs.

Solar Photovoltaic Industry in Korea: Current Status and Perspectives

Globally, interest in renewable energy and related industries are rapidly increasing in recent years. In solar power generation, almost unlimited energy resources can be supplied as long as the sun does not disappear, and carbon dioxide is not generated when looking at the power generation process itself. However, photovoltaic power generation faces several fundamental problems such as low economic feasibility, disposal of waste panels, environmental destruction due to installation, and generation of harmful substances in the production process. In this review, the current status of photovoltaic power generation is reviewed and, based on this, the direction for Korea's photovoltaic policy is suggested. 1) In order to overcome low economic feasibility, large-scale power generation projects should be promoted to achieve economies of scale. 2) Existing buildings or spaces must be utilized to prevent forest damage from photovoltaic power generation. 3) Active support and investment from the state and companies are needed to develop eco-friendly technologies for reducing hazardous substances and recycling waste panels. 4) An institutional system for information disclosure and management of harmful substances for solar energy projects should be established.

False data injection attack in smart grid: Attack model and reinforcement learning-based detection method

The smart grid, as a cyber-physical system, is vulnerable to attacks due to the diversified and open environment. The false data injection attack (FDIA) can threaten the grid security by constructing and injecting the falsified attack vector to bypass the system detection. Due to the diversity of attacks, it is impractical to detect FDIAs by fixed methods. This paper proposed a false data injection attack model and countering detection methods based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL). First, we studied an attack model under the assumption of unlimited attack resources and information of complete topology. Different types of FDIAs are also enumerated. Then, we formulated the attack detection problem as a Markov decision process (MDP). A deep reinforcement learning-based method is proposed to detect FDIAs with a combined dynamic-static detection mechanism. To address the sparse reward problem, experiences with discrepant rewards are stored in different replay buffers to achieve efficiency. Moreover, the state space is extended by considering the most recent states to improve the perception capability. Simulations were performed on IEEE 9,14,30, and 57-bus systems, proving the validation of attack model and efficiency of detection method. Results proved efficacy of the detection method in different scenarios.

A surplus no more? Variation in krill availability impacts reproductive rates of Antarctic baleen whales.

The krill surplus hypothesis of unlimited prey resources available for Antarctic predators due to commercial whaling in the 20th century has remained largely untested since the 1970s. Rapid warming of the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) over the past 50 years has resulted in decreased seasonal ice cover and a reduction of krill. The latter is being exacerbated by a commercial krill fishery in the region. Despite this, humpback whale populations have increased but may be at a threshold for growth based on these human-induced changes. Understanding how climate-mediated variation in prey availability influences humpback whale population dynamics is critical for focused management and conservation actions. Using an 8-year dataset (2013-2020), we show that inter-annual humpback whale pregnancy rates, as determined from skin-blubber biopsy samples (n= 616), are positively correlated with krill availability and fluctuations in ice cover in the previous year. Pregnancy rates showed significant inter-annual variability, between 29% and 86%. Our results indicate that krill availability is in fact limiting and affecting reproductive rates, in contrast to the krill surplus hypothesis. This suggests that this population of humpback whales may be at a threshold for population growth due to prey limitations. As a result, continued warming and increased fishing along the WAP, which continue to reduce krill stocks, will likely impact this humpback whale population and other krill predators in the region. Humpback whales are sentinel species of ecosystem health, and changes in pregnancy rates can provide quantifiable signals of the impact of environmental change at the population level. Our findings must be considered paramount in developing new and more restrictive conservation and management plans for the Antarctic marine ecosystem and minimizing the negative impacts of human activities in the region.

Исследование тепловой производительности гидросистемы на солнечном коллекторе

Radiation life support systems, such as solar collectors, are highly efficient, have an almost unlimited resource, and do not use complex technologies. Technologies of heating, heating and hot water supply are implemented quite simply. Such systems use the energy of solar radiation, which is carbon-free, environmentally friendly and renewable. This energy is converted into thermal radiation by solar collectors and transferred to heated rooms using hydraulic or pneumatic systems. For low-rise detached buildings such as cottages and rural houses, hydraulic systems are more promising due to the greater heat capacity of water or non-freezing liquids compared to air. This paper discusses experimental and computational studies of the radiation life support system carried out in 2018–2021. It is possible to determine the thermal performance and geometric dimensions of solar collectors with the accuracy necessary for practice by calculations based on experimental data. It is possible to obtain missing experimental data using interpolation, extrapolation and similarity theory.

Sustainable agricultural development through agribusiness approach and provision of location specific technology In North Sulawesi

The agricultural sector until the next few decades will still be the basis of economic growth for the community and the regional economy in North Sulawesi. The economic value of businesses in this sector has the potential to increase if all the main actors and supporting actors take on a more professional role. The problem is still weak linkages between sub-systems that injure the mindset of the farming community, Natural Resource Management, and the environment, which in the long run will hinder the sustainability of agricultural development. This article is a review that aims to increase agricultural productivity through agribusiness approaches and site-specific technologies by optimizing the utilization of natural and human resources and implementing sustainable technologies. Literature review and field observations were conducted using secondary data to determine the factors that affect the success of sustainable agricultural development through agribusiness approaches and site-specific technologies. On-farm development can be achieved through sustainable agriculture system approach, implementation of Agricultural Integration, Agroindustry Development, and agribusiness system. The hope of sustainable agricultural development in the future is the availability of unlimited resources, good interaction between agribusiness actors, and an increasingly qualified environment, flexibility in agribusiness activities.

A Fair and Rational Data Sharing Strategy Toward Two-Stage Industrial Internet of Things

The easy and pervasive involvement of devices in Industrial Internet of Things has greatly benefited the implementation and adoption of various smart services. One prominent prerequisite of such trends is the extensive and continuous support and sharing of data and resources among devices. However, previous efforts usually treat the data sharing as one-time task among devices, which are incapable when the data are applied for the distributed and iterative training task of machine learning models. Therefore, this article proposes a novel framework for continuous data sharing in Industrial Internet of Things. The system consists of different system owners, each brings devices and participate the distributed training of models. Specifically, system owners hold different scales of devices, data, and resources, while devices own heterogeneous availability in different time periods. In this case, the goal is to properly assign devices for qualified model training process in different rounds, such that no devices will devote unlimited resources and the overall efforts and consumptions among different owners are balanced. Accordingly, three algorithms for device allocation are proposed, based on whether the availability of devices in each training round are known at the beginning of the training procedure. The analysis shows that all algorithms can achieve a rational allocation for devices and balance the performance among system owners. Finally, evaluation results reveal that the proposed solutions outperform baseline methods in providing better data sharing plans.

The strategic importance of south china sea to international geopolitics

The South China Sea, at first glance, seems like any other part of an ocean enclosed by a cluster of Islands and straits and covering a certain area. However, the geostrategic and economic importance associated with the ocean is tremendous and manifold. From busiest maritime trade ways to sea beds full of unlimited resources, this piece of Pacific Ocean is the power beaming with unlimited potential of geostrategic and economic supremacy for anyone having the power to dominate it. It is upon such background that this paper carefully evaluates the strategic importance of the South China Sea. The paper look at the brief history of the South Sea, Natural Resources endowed in the Sea, Territorial Claims among the countries, and the political, economic and military/Defence strategic importance of the Sea. The paper concluded that, the present of natural Resources and the high volume of trade in goods and services transported across the Sea make it an important and most busiest water way in the world, therefore, conflict over it among Asian countries and the world super powers is inevitable. This is because, whoever control the sea, will automatically have a significant influence and control over the world politically, economically andmilitarily.

A scenario-based quasi-experimental study of co-workers’ cognitive responses to an individual’s resource-focused job crafting

Research on job crafting has demonstrated a more positive effect of an individual’s approach crafting on co-workers and supervisors compared to the effect of avoidance crafting, but how the availability of resources and demands affects this relationship remains unclear. Our study investigates co-workers’ cognitive responses to an individual’s resource-focused job crafting when resources are finite. We applied a scenario-based quasi-experimental research design to test the moderating effect of resource availability on the relationship between an individual’s resource-focused job crafting and co-workers’ evaluation. The results show that co-workers rate avoidance resources crafting as more destructive than approach resources crafting. When an individual steps away from unlimited resources, co-workers perceive the behavior more negatively than they do when the individual avoids limited resources. For approaching resources, the effect is reversed. The study provides insights into co-workers’ responses to job crafting and the influence of contextual factors.

Recent PELE Developments and Applications in Drug Discovery Campaigns.

Computer simulation techniques are gaining a central role in molecular pharmacology. Due to several factors, including the significant improvements of traditional molecular modelling, the irruption of machine learning methods, the massive data generation, or the unlimited computational resources through cloud computing, the future of pharmacology seems to go hand in hand with in silico predictions. In this review, we summarize our recent efforts in such a direction, centered on the unconventional Monte Carlo PELE software and on its coupling with machine learning techniques. We also provide new data on combining two recent new techniques, aquaPELE capable of exhaustive water sampling and fragPELE, for fragment growing.

Generation of Hepatocytes and Nonparenchymal Cell Codifferentiation System from Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

To date, hepatocytes derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) provide a potentially unlimited resource for clinical application and drug development. However, most hiPSC-derived hepatocyte-like cells initiated differentiation from highly purified definitive endoderm, which are insufficient to accurately replicate the complex regulation of signals among multiple cells and tissues during liver organogenesis, thereby displaying an immature phenotypic and short survival time in vitro. Here, we described a protocol to achieve codifferentiation of endoderm-derived hepatocytes and mesoderm-derived nonparenchymal cells by the inclusion of BMP4 into hepatic differentiation medium, which has a beneficial effect on the hepatocyte maturation and lifespan in vitro. Our codifferentiation system suggests the important role of nonparenchymal cells in liver organogenesis. Hopefully, these hepatocytes described here provide a promising approach in the therapy of liver diseases.

Prescribed precision for medical products obtained with additive manufacturing technologies

The paper highlights the importance of corelating the function of a medical product, with its’ design and manufacture stages within the global product design and development process. Dimensional accuracy, macro-geometric and micro-geometric shape accuracy, relative surface position accuracy and other prescribed characteristics of medical products should take into consideration a variety of factors, such as custom requirements, regulated by the product functions. In an ideal scenario, with unlimited resources, prescribed characteristics dictate the selection of the manufacturing technology and equipment. Nonetheless, in most cases the design stage takes into consideration capabilities of available technology, correlated with bespoke requirements. In this context, the authors propose a clear distinction between precision, accuracy, repeatability, and resolution, as to properly address each issue in the lifecycle of a medical product manufactured using additive technologies. Using a real application for an upper limb prosthesis, the nominal position precision is prescribed, based on size-dependent geometric tolerances, for a cylindrical surface in relation to three reference surfaces, with the application of the maximum and minimum material principles.

A Literature Review on Renewable Energy Resource and Optimization

Step by step the energy request is broadening and in this way the necessities for a manageable source that won’t hurt the climate are of prime significance. Several projections express that by 2050 the energy requesting will basically increase. In any case bigger part of the energy necessities is fulfilled by oil subordinates yet by the utilization of innocuous to the environment power designs could help in giving the energy requests. As we in general understand that feasible power is the energy which is either established by the environment or straightforwardly from the sun or from heat conveyed critical inside the earth. In this review paper the renewable energy s power and warmth, which is produced using sun based, wind, sea, hydropower, biomass, geothermal assets, bio engages and hydrogen and these resources are known as unlimited resources.