SecNVM: An Efficient and Write-Friendly Metadata Crash Consistency Scheme for Secure NVM

Data security is an indispensable part of non-volatile memory (NVM) systems. However, implementing data security efficiently on NVM is challenging, since we have to guarantee the consistency of user data and the related security metadata. Existing consistency schemes ignore the recoverability of the SGX style integrity tree (SIT) and the access correlation between metadata blocks, thereby generating unnecessary NVM write traffic. In this article, we propose SecNVM, an efficient and write-friendly metadata crash consistency scheme for secure NVM. SecNVM utilizes the observation that for a lazily updated SIT, the lost tree nodes after a crash can be recovered by the corresponding child nodes in NVM. It reduces the SIT persistency overhead through a restrained write-back metadata cache and exploits the SIT inter-layer dependency for recovery. Next, leveraging the strong access correlation between the counter and DMAC, SecNVM improves the efficiency of security metadata access through a novel collaborative counter-DMAC scheme. In addition, it adopts a lightweight address tracker to reduce the cost of address tracking for fast recovery. Experiments show that compared to the state-of-the-art schemes, SecNVM improves the performance and decreases write traffic a lot, and achieves an acceptable recovery time.

Hybrid Autoscaling Strategy on Container-based Cloud Platform

The container has several advantages over the traditional virtual machine technology such as light-weight, fast booting time, and fast recovery. Kubernetes is one the most outstanding container management and deployment platforms. The Kubernetes provides autoscaling function, which will increase and decrease the hardware resources to adapt with the current traffic load situation to keep the user experience. Two popular autoscaling methods are horizontal autoscaling and vertical autoscaling. Based on the monitoring resource utilization, horizontal autoscaling will increase the number of PoDs (point of deployment) or vertical autoscaling will increase the hardware resources of each PoD to achieve the target utilization. In this paper, we present a hybrid solution that combines the advantages of both autoscaling solutions and proposes a bandwidth-efficient scheduler strategy. By numerical analysis, our hybrid approach is better than the normal HPA approach in terms of bandwidth cost and has lower autoscaling latency than the VPA approach

A Review of Data-Driven Short-Term Voltage Stability Assessment of Power Systems: Concept, Principle, and Challenges

With the rapid growth of power market reform and power demand, the power transmission capacity of a power grid is approaching its limit and the secure and stable operation of power systems becomes increasingly important. In particular, in modern power grids, the proportion of dynamic loads with fast recovery characteristics such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and industrial motors is increasing. As well as there is an increasing proportion of different forms of renewable energy in power systems. Therefore, the short-term voltage stability (STVS) of power systems cannot be ignored. This article comprehensively sorts out the STVS problems of power systems from the perspective of data-driven methods and discusses existing challenges.

Non-intubated uniportal subxiphoid thoracoscopic extended thymectomy for thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis

Background To describe a technique of non-intubated uniportal subxiphoid thoracoscopic extended thymectomy. Methods Data were collected retrospectively. A single 3-cm transverse incision was made below the xiphoid process. This method for extended thymectomy entails adoption of uniportal subxiphoid VATS combined with using of non-intubated anesthesia for thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis. Results Ten consecutive patients underwent this procedure successfully. Mean operative time was 102.5 min. Conversion to intubated ventilation or thoracotomy was not required. Mean chest tube duration was 3.5 days. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.7 days. Histologic examination showed early-stage thymomas. Side effects were rare. Quantitative MG scores decreased during follow-up. Conclusions Patients were uneventfully discharged with fast recovery. This technique may merge the potential benefits of a subxiphoid incision and the non-intubated anesthesia protocol.

P-P20 ‘Fast Recovery’ A multidisciplinary approach to improving recovery after pancreatic resection and ultimately increasing uptake of adjuvant chemotherapy

Background Pancreatic cancer surgery has a multi-system impact on a potentially vulnerable population. Current rates of adjuvant chemotherapy uptake are low. Our group developed a multidisciplinary bundle of care with the aim of improving recovery after surgery. The primary aim was to improve uptake of adjuvant chemotherapy and the secondary aim was to prevent nutritional decline. Methods This prospective, observational, cohort study evaluated the effect of the ‘Fast Recovery’ programme. This programme, developed with input from dieticians, physiotherapists, surgeons, and geriatricians and comprising pre- and post-operative frailty assessments, nutritional support and physiotherapy was implemented for all within our unit undergoing pancreatic resection for cancer. (See Fig. 1) Results Over 1 year, patients enrolled in the Fast Recovery programme (N = 44) were compared to those treated prior to the pathway change (N = 409). The Fast Recovery programme was not associated with a significant increase of adjuvant chemotherapy uptake (80.5 vs. 74.3%, p = 0.452), but did lead to a significantly lower average weight loss (4.3 vs. 6.9kg, p = 0.013). Patients that did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy performed significantly worse on a pre-operative six minute walk test (mean distance: 277 vs. 454 metres, p = 0.001). Conclusions Feasibility of a multimodal package to improve patient care following pancreatic resection has been shown by this pilot study. No significant improvement in the chemotherapy uptake was observed, however, this was potentially a result of the study being underpowered. Pre-operative physical assessments were found to be predictive of adjuvant chemotherapy uptake and could potentially be used to identify those in need of additional support. Further work is needed to evaluate the routine use of such a programme.

Comfort Evaluation of Slow-Recovery Ejection Seat Cushions Based on Sitting Pressure Distribution

Sitting discomfort not only affects the health of pilots carrying out long-endurance missions but also affects operational performance. The experimental objects included four ejection seat cushions: N1 was a fast-recovery foam as the comparison group, and the experimental groups were slow-recovery foams with different indentation force deflection (IFD), named N2 (hard), N3 (mid), and N4 (soft). The sitting comfort of 20 participants was tested on the four cushions by using subjective rating and sitting pressure distribution analysis. The results showed that compared with fast-recovery cushion N3 and N4 slow-recovery cushions have lower contact pressure and more uniform pressure distribution. Slow-recovery cushions that were too soft or too hard would reduce the comfort. No matter from the subjective rating or the analysis of the contact pressure data, the N3 cushion with a thickness of 3 cm and 65% IFD of 280 N had the highest comfort. In addition, the seat pressure distribution (SPD%) has a significant correlation with the subjective rating (p = 0.019, R = −0.98), which is more suitable for evaluating the comfort of the cushions. However, the slow-recovery cushions would show a decrease in support after a period of sitting, while the fast-recovery cushion could always maintain constant support.

Sumatran Fleabane (Erigeron sumatrensis) Resistant to PSI-Inhibitor Herbicides and Physiological Responses to Paraquat

Herbicide-resistant weed management is one of the greatest agricultural challenges in crop production. Thus, the quick identification of resistant-herbicide weeds is extremely important for management. This study aimed to evaluate resistance to PSI-inhibitor herbicides (diquat) of Sumatran Fleabane [(Erigeron sumatrensis (Retz.) E.Walker)] and physiological response to paraquat application. The research was conducted with two E. sumatrensis biotypes, one susceptible and the other with multiple resistance to herbicides from five different modes of action (glyphosate, paraquat, diuron, saflufenacil, and 2,4-D). A dose-response assay was carried out to evaluate herbicide resistance to diquat in paraquat-resistant E. sumatrensis biotype. The enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, and chlorophyll a fluorescence were measured in both biotypes after paraquat (400 g ai ha−1) application. The dose-response assay confirmed resistance of E. sumatrensis to diquat with resistance factor levels of 26-fold and 6-fold for LD50 and GR50 values, respectively, compared with the susceptible biotype. The accumulation of H2O2 occurred faster in the paraquat-susceptible biotype than in the resistant ones. Paraquat treatment caused an increase in SOD and APX activity in the susceptible biotype, but antioxidant enzyme activities were unaffected by paraquat in the resistant one at 5 hours after application (HAA). Chlorophyll a fluorescence increased along the first 4 HAA in both resistant and susceptible biotypes. However, at 24 HAA the resistant biotype showed a decline in fluorescence close to untreated plants while susceptible one died, which can be used to diagnose paraquat resistance at 24 HAA. There is confirmed resistance to diquat in a paraquat-resistant E. sumatrensis biotype. The paraquat-resistant biotype does not induce antioxidative enzymes, as a possible mechanism of resistance to paraquat, but shows a fast recovery of photosynthesis and continuous growth when subjected to paraquat, while the paraquat-susceptible biotype does not survive.