基于改进灰狼优化算法的服务功能链映射算法

随着工业互联网、车联网、元宇宙等新型互联网应用的兴起，网络的低时延、可靠性、安全性、确定性等方面的需求正面临严峻挑战。采用网络功能虚拟化技术在虚拟网络部署过程中，存在服务功能链映射效率低与部署资源开销大等问题，联合考虑节点激活成本、实例化开销，以最小化平均部署网络成本为优化目标建立了整数线性规划模型，提出基于改进灰狼优化算法的服务功能链映射（improved grey wolf optimization based service function chain mapping，IMGWO-SFCM）算法。该算法在标准灰狼优化算法基础上添加了基于无环K最短路径（K shortest path，KSP）问题算法的映射方案搜索、映射方案编码以及基于反向学习与非线性收敛改进三大策略，较好地平衡了其全局搜索及局部搜索能力，实现服务功能链映射方案的快速确定。仿真结果显示，该算法在保证更高的服务功能链请求接受率下，相较于对比算法降低了11.86%的平均部署网络成本。     

我国水-能源-粮食耦合关系及影响因素

为缓解我国水、能源和粮食资源紧张问题，促进资源可持续利用，构建水-能源-粮食系统，利用耦合协调度模型对我国的30个省（自治区、直辖市）进行测算,并利用空间杜宾模型分析主要影响因素。结果表明：2003—2017年，我国能源、粮食评价[JP]指数高于水资源评价指数，系统综合评价指数逐年递增；大部分省份耦合协调度处于初级协调水平且呈现逐年上升的态势，个别省份耦合协调度濒临失调；耦合协调度空间自相关性较强，虽有明显波动，但是呈现逐年加强的态势；影响耦合协调度的主要因素有从业人口数、固定资产投资额、人均生产总值、人口总数、[JP]文盲人口占比、工业污染排放、城镇化。     

Cornus officinalis vinegar reduces body weight and attenuates hepatic steatosis in mouse model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

This study aimed to determine the main bioactive components of Cornus officinalis vinegar (COV) and assess the effects of COV on the body weight (BW) and hepatic steatosis in a nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) mouse model. Seven-week-old KM female mice were divided into five treatment groups: (1) Normal control (NC) group, (2) high fat diet (HFD) group, (3) low concentration treatment group (3.5% COV), (4) medium concentration treatment group (5.0% COV), and (5) high concentration treatment group (6.5% COV). Mice in the NC group were fed with a normal chow diet, and those in the other four groups were fed with a HFD known for causing obesity for 10 weeks. Then, mice in the three COV treatment groups were orally administered with COV once a day for 6 weeks. Results showed that the contents of loganin and morroniside in COV reached 16.82 and 51.17 µg/ml, respectively, and COV also contained multiple organic acids. COV significantly reduced BW, abdominal fat weight, liver weight, and the levels of glucose, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of serum and increased the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol of serum (p < 0.05). COV also improved the liver function and anti-oxidant activity of liver (p < 0.05). COV treatments increased the interleukin-10 expression and reduced the tumor necrosis factor-α expression in the liver tissue of NAFLD mice (p < 0.05). Histopathological observation revealed that COV suppressed hepatic lipid accumulation and steatosis. The results suggest that COV may contribute to the alleviation of NAFLD and obesity.     

Memory-based dynamic event-triggered control for networked interval type-2 fuzzy systems subject to DoS attacks

In this article, the memory-based dynamic event-triggered controller design issue is investigated for networked interval type-2 (IT2) fuzzy systems under non-periodic denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. For saving limited network bandwidth, a novel memory-based dynamic event-triggered mechanism (DETM) is proposed to schedule data communication. Unlike existing event-triggered generators, the developed memory-based DETM can utilize a series of newly released signals and further save network resources by introducing interval dynamic variables. Moreover, to improve design flexibility, an IT2 fuzzy controller with freely selectable fuzzy rule number and premise membership functions (MFs) is synthesized. Then, a new switched time-delay system with imperfectly matched MFs is established under the consideration of memory-based DETM and DoS attacks simultaneously. Besides, based on the property of MFs, the boundary information of membership grades and slack matrices are introduced in the stability analysis. Furthermore, by using a piecewise Lyapunov–Krasovskii method, membership-functions-dependent criteria are deduced to ensure the asymptotic stability of built fuzzy switched systems. Finally, the effectiveness of proposed control strategies is demonstrated by simulation examples.     

Application of artificial neural network method to predict the breakage properties of PGE bearing chromite ore

In the present investigation, systematic grinding experiments were conducted in a laboratory ball mill to determine the breakage properties of low-grade PGE bearing chromite ore. The population balance modeling technique was used to study the breakage parameters such as primary breakage distribution (B_{i, j}) and the specific rates of breakage (S_i). The breakage and selection function values were determined for six feed sizes. The results stated that the breakage follows the first-order grinding kinetics for all the feed sizes. It was observed that the coarser feed sizes exhibit higher selection function values than the finer feed size. Further, an artificial neural network was used to predict breakage characteristics of low-grade PGE bearing chromite ore. The predicted results obtained from the neural network modeling were close to the experimental results with a correlation of determination R² = 0.99 for both product size and selection function.     

Influence of density on the post-suffusion behavior of gap-graded sand with fines

Suffusion erosion, characterized as the selective detachment and transportation of finer particles by seepage flow, is hazardous to the stability and serviceability of geotechnical structures. The removal of finer particles deteriorates the structure and fabric of the soil, leading to the degradation of its mechanical properties. Studies into the effects of suffusion on mechanical behavior have so far produced disparate results depending on the pre-erosion relative density of the specimens tested. To investigate this issue, small cyclic and monotonic loading tests were performed on intact and eroded gap-graded silty sand specimens in three dispersed density states, using a triaxial cell modified for the purpose of erosion. The variation of Young's modulus showed an inverse relationship with the pre-erosion density of the specimen, as the small strain stiffness decreased in the dense cases and increased in the loose cases. Conversely, Poisson's ratio increased in value as suffusion progressed regardless of the initial density of the specimens. In the contractive phase of monotonic loading, the densification of the coarse soil skeleton by the downward seepage flow resulted in a decrease in contractiveness and an increase in secant stiffness. In the dilative phase, the increase in porosity by the erosion of finer particles reduced the dilatancy and peak strength of the specimens. The results suggest that the pre-suffusion density determines the primary locus of affected mechanical behavior in triaxial compression, which shifts from the contractive phase to the dilative phase with the increase in pre-suffusion density. The critical state strength, inferred using stress–dilatancy theory, was largely unaffected by the erosion of finer particles. As the results indicate, pre-erosion density may be of practical significance in assessing the vulnerability to deterioration and collapse of geotechnical formations and structures subjected to suffusion erosion.     

Efficiency evaluation of healthcare services in China based on stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis and directional distance function

Evaluating the efficiency of healthcare services accurately can help in analyzing the rationality of inputs and outputs in such services. Considering the consistency and equity of assessment criteria, this study conducts the stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis (SMAA-2) with a directional distance function to evaluate the efficiency of healthcare services in 31 provincial administrative regions of mainland China, as observed in 2018. We use SMAA-DDF to explore all the projection directions to the efficient frontier instead of a certain projection direction. We measure the maximum and average efficiencies for each of the 31 provincial healthcare services. Our empirical findings show that only seven provinces achieve optimal healthcare service efficiency; the eastern area performed the best, followed by the central, western, and northeast areas. Furthermore, the path along the projection directions is provided to help inefficient provinces improve their efficiency and obtain the best possible positions.     

E7766, a Macrocycle-Bridged Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) Agonist with Potent Pan-Genotypic Activity

A strategy for creating potent and pan-genotypic stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonists is described. Locking a bioactive U-shaped conformation of cyclic dinucleotides by introducing a transannular macrocyclic bridge between the nucleic acid bases leads to a topologically novel macrocycle-bridged STING agonist (MBSA). In addition to substantially enhanced potency, the newly designed MBSAs, exemplified by clinical candidate E7766 , exhibit broad pan-genotypic activity in all major human STING variants. E7766 is shown to have potent antitumor activity with long lasting immune memory response in a mouse liver metastatic tumor model. Two complementary stereoselective synthetic routes to E7766 are also described.     

Stem Photosynthesis—A Key Element of Grass Pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) Acclimatisation to Salinity

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) is a leguminous plant of outstanding tolerance to abiotic stress. The aim of the presented study was to describe the mechanism of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) photosynthetic apparatus acclimatisation strategies to salinity stress. The seedlings were cultivated in a hydroponic system in media containing various concentrations of NaCl (0, 50, and 100 mM), imitating none, moderate, and severe salinity, respectively, for three weeks. In order to characterise the function and structure of the photosynthetic apparatus, Chl a fluorescence, gas exchange measurements, proteome analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis were done inter alia. Significant differences in the response of the leaf and stem photosynthetic apparatus to severe salt stress were observed. Leaves became the place of harmful ion (Na⁺) accumulation, and the efficiency of their carboxylation decreased sharply. In turn, in stems, the reconstruction of the photosynthetic apparatus (antenna and photosystem complexes) activated alternative electron transport pathways, leading to effective ATP synthesis, which is required for the efficient translocation of Na⁺ to leaves. These changes enabled efficient stem carboxylation and made them the main source of assimilates. The observed changes indicate the high plasticity of grass pea photosynthetic apparatus, providing an effective mechanism of tolerance to salinity stress.     

Interrelated Mechanism by Which the Methide Quinone Celastrol,Obtained from the Roots of Tripterygium wilfordii,Inhibits Main Protease 3CLpro of COVID-19 and Acts as Superoxide Radical Scavenger

We describe the potential anti coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) action of the methide quinone inhibitor, celastrol. The related methide quinone dexamethasone is, so far, among COVID-19 medications perhaps the most effective drug for patients with severe symptoms. We observe a parallel redox biology behavior between the antioxidant action of celastrol when scavenging the superoxide radical, and the adduct formation of celastrol with the main COVID-19 protease. The related molecular mechanism is envisioned using molecular mechanics and dynamics calculations. It proposes a covalent bond between the S(Cys145) amino acid thiolate and the celastrol A ring, assisted by proton transfers by His164 and His41 amino acids, and a π interaction from Met49 to the celastrol B ring. Specifically, celastrol possesses two moieties that are able to independently scavenge the superoxide radical: the carboxylic framework located at ring E, and the methide-quinone ring A. The latter captures the superoxide electron, releasing molecular oxygen, and is the feature of interest that correlates with the mechanism of COVID-19 inhibition. This unusual scavenging of the superoxide radical is described using density functional theory (DFT) methods, and is supported experimentally by cyclic voltammetry and X-ray diffraction.