Adaptive Resource Control in 2-hop Ad-Hoc Networks

This paper presents a simple resource control\ud mechanism with traffic scheduling for 2-hop ad-hoc networks, in\ud which the Request-To-Send (RTS) packet is utilized to deliver\ud feedback information. With this feedback information, the\ud Transmission Opportunity (TXOP) limit of the sources can be\ud controlled to balance the traffic. Furthermore, a bottleneck\ud transmission scheduling scheme is introduced to provide fairness\ud between local and forwarding flows. The proposed mechanism is\ud modeled and evaluated using the well-known 20-sim dynamic\ud system simulator. Experimental results show that a fairer and\ud more efficient bandwidth utilization can be achieved than\ud without the feedback mechanism. The use of the structured and\ud formalized control-theoretical modeling framework has as\ud advantage that results can be obtained in a fast and efficient way

Digital Infrastructure and Increasing Farmers’ Income: A Quasi-Natural Experiment Based on the “Broadband China” Strategy

Digital infrastructure serves as a significant catalyst for economic advancement, capable of narrowing the digital gap that exists between urban, rural, and regional areas. And it enables more people to enjoy the convenience brought by digitalization, and promote social inclusion and equality. This study employs the "Broadband China" strategy as a quasi-natural experiment and employs a progressive Difference-in-Differences (DID) model to investigate the effects of digital infrastructure on increasing farmers' income. The findings of the study indicate that the development of digital infrastructure can assist in increasing farmers’ income. The establishment of digital infrastructure has greatly facilitated industrial rationalization, non-agricultural employment and human capital improvement in rural areas, provided farmers with more business opportunities and employment options, and contributed to the realization of rural revitalization and common prosperity. This research provides empirical support to gain a more profound insight into the significance of digital advancement to rural economic growth, and also provides a useful reference for relevant policy formulation

Transcription factor family‐specific DNA shape readout revealed by quantitative specificity models

Transcription factors (TFs) achieve DNA-binding specificity through contacts with functional groups of bases (base readout) and readout of structural properties of the double helix (shape readout). Currently, it remains unclear whether DNA shape readout is utilized by only a few selected TF families, or whether this mechanism is used extensively by most TF families. We resequenced data from previously published HT-SELEX experiments, the most extensive mammalian TF–DNA binding data available to date. Using these data, we demonstrated the contributions of DNA shape readout across diverse TF families and its importance in core motif-flanking regions. Statistical machine-learning models combined with feature-selection techniques helped to reveal the nucleotide position-dependent DNA shape readout in TF-binding sites and the TF family-specific position dependence. Based on these results, we proposed novel DNA shape logos to visualize the DNA shape preferences of TFs. Overall, this work suggests a way of obtaining mechanistic insights into TF–DNA binding without relying on experimentally solved all-atom structures

Intermittent Continuance of Smart Health Devices: A Zone-of-Tolerance Perspective

Smart health and wearable devices have recently received widespread attention from practitioners and scholars. However, intermittent continuance behavior of users is considered to be one of the most important reasons hindering the development of smart health. To address this issue, the current study employs the zone-of-tolerance theory to explore the mechanisms through which intermittent continuance is evoked. In particular, this study develops two new constructs (i.e., performance superiority and performance adequacy), and proposes that they affect intermittent continuance via satisfaction and neutral satisfaction, respectively. Results demonstrated that the effects of the two new variables on intermittent continuance of smart health devices had been fully mediated. This study concludes with theoretical and practical implications

Revised Dingo Optimization Algorithm for Frequency Offset Design in FDA‐MIMO Radar

Abstract The conventional frequency diverse array (FDA) system, using linear frequency offsets, generates periodic grating lobes and coupling effects, which may increase interference for potential users and difficulty in controlling parameters. To mitigate these issues and generate a dot-shaped beampattern, nonlinear frequency offsets are introduced to break periodicity and decouple the interdependence of parameters in the range and angle dimensions. Furthermore, to obtain the optimal nonlinear frequency offsets, we propose an algorithm based on the FDA multiple-input multiple-output (FDA-MIMO) structure that integrates the revised dingo optimization algorithm (RDOA) with a Kaiser window function (referred to as the RDOAK algorithm). Specifically, the RDOA is used to optimize the nonlinear frequency offset coefficients, while the Kaiser window function is applied to adjust the waveform. Simulation results demonstrate the superior performance of our proposed RDOAK approach in preventing the mainlobe shift of the beampattern, eliminating grating lobes, suppressing jammings, and achieving a narrower mainlobe width in the range dimension compared to other widely used algorithms.Abstract The conventional frequency diverse array (FDA) system, using linear frequency offsets, generates periodic grating lobes and coupling effects, which may increase interference for potential users and difficulty in controlling parameters. To mitigate these issues and generate a dot-shaped beampattern, nonlinear frequency offsets are introduced to break periodicity and decouple the interdependence of parameters in the range and angle dimensions. Furthermore, to obtain the optimal nonlinear frequency offsets, we propose an algorithm based on the FDA multiple-input multiple-output (FDA-MIMO) structure that integrates the revised dingo optimization algorithm (RDOA) with a Kaiser window function (referred to as the RDOAK algorithm). Specifically, the RDOA is used to optimize the nonlinear frequency offset coefficients, while the Kaiser window function is applied to adjust the waveform. Simulation results demonstrate the superior performance of our proposed RDOAK approach in preventing the mainlobe shift of the beampattern, eliminating grating lobes, suppressing jammings, and achieving a narrower mainlobe width in the range dimension compared to other widely used algorithms

A double knockout for zinc transporter 8 and somatostatin in mice reveals their distinct roles in regulation of insulin secretion and obesity.

BACKGROUND: Both zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8) and somatostatin (Sst) play crucial roles in the regulation of insulin and glucagon secretion. However, the interaction between them in controlling glucose metabolism was not well understood. The aim of this study was to explore the interactive effects of a double knockout of Znt8 and Sst on insulin and glucose metabolism in mice. METHODS: Co-expression of ZnT8 with hormones secreted from gastrointestinal endocrine cells of mice was determined using immunofluorescence. Male Znt8 knockout (Znt8KO), Sst knockout (SstKO), double knockout for Sst and Znt8 (DKO), and the wild-type (WT) mice were fed a regular chow diet (CD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) at 3 weeks old for 15 weeks. Weights and fasting or fed glucose levels were determined. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests were performed; metabolic-relevant hormone levels including insulin, glucagon, glucagon-like peptide 1, Pyy, and leptin were determined. RESULTS: ZnT8 is co-expressed with Sst in a subpopulation of endocrine D cells in the gastrointestinal tract. The absence of ZnT8 expression resulted in an increased density of the dense cores in the secretory granules of the D cell. DKO mice had reduced weight compared to WT when maintained on the CD. Compared to Znt8KO and SstKO, DKO mice did not show significant differences in fed or fasting blood glucose level regardless of dietary conditions. However, the CD-fed DKO mice had impaired insulin secretion without alterations in islet morphology or numbers. Moreover, DKO mice displayed diet-induced insulin resistance and disrupted secretion of metabolic-related hormones. CONCLUSIONS: Somatostatin as well as a normal insulin sensitivity are required for normalizing glucose metabolism in Znt8KO mice. ZnT8 may play a role in regulating fat mass and leptin secretion. These findings shed light on the multifaceted nature of Znt8 and Sst interactions, opening new avenues to understand their roles in controlling glucose metabolism and fat mass

CURRENT SITUATION INVESTIGATION AND COUNTERMEASURE RESEARCH OF STUDENTS’ ONLINE LEARNING DURING THE EPIDEMIC PERIOD: A CASE STUDY OF ZHEJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA

A survey of 538 students in 6 primary and secondary schools and colleges in Hangzhou, Ningbo and Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China has found: (1) Chinese schools suspended offline teaching in February-May, 2020 due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. All students studied online at home and 93% of them studied 2-7 hours a day online on average. Among all of them, students in primary schools spent least time online and college students spent most time. The science courses in middle school accounted for 46% of total studied courses, English accounted for 17%, and university major courses accounted for 21%. Furthermore, students spent 1-7 hours per day on watching TV and playing video games, and 1-4 hours on homework to review lessons. (2) After the end of the epidemic in China, more than 51% of students are still studying online for 1-4 hours a day, the epidemic situation has made online teaching in China popularized 10-20 years in advance, and students' online learning has become normal. (3) 32% of students like to study online, and they think that online class has the following advantages: numerous high-quality courseware that can be learned at any time anywhere, easy to communicate, save the time to go and from school, high learning efficiency, and online tutoring class charges are cheaper than offline ones. (4) The proportion of students who feel neutral and dislike the online study account for 56% and 9% respectively; they think online learning has the following problems: the online courses provided by schools are boring but they were forced to learn, and also have to clock in, which cannot bring the advantages of online education; the price of online tutoring course is very high; communication is not as easy as offline; the submission and correction of homework is more complicated than offline, and the learning effect is not good; students’ eyesight is decreased rapidly; online examination is not allowed. (5) 21% of parents are very supportive of online teaching, 62% of parents think it is acceptable, 17% of parents do not support or oppose, the reason for opposition is that their children do not have enough self-control, online learning effect is more difficult to ensure, eyesight loss is faster and so on. Therefore, the following countermeasures are put forward: (1) students are ought to be guided to pay attention to online learning; (2) to strengthen the reform of teaching methods, improve courseware quality, control teaching time, and leave students time for notes to ensure recess; (3) reduce video and broadcast courses, advocate live courses, strengthen the communication and interaction between teachers and students; (4) reform to simplify the online homework submission method, explore a reasonable online examination model; (5) strengthens the home-school cooperation, encourages the supervision function of parents, and strengthens the online teaching results. Article visualizations