Smartphone-based location estimation technology is becoming increasingly important across various fields. Accurate location estimation plays a critical role in life-saving efforts during emergency rescue situations, where rapid response is essential. Traditional methods such as GPS often face limitations in indoors or in densely built environments, where signals may be obstructed or reflected, leading to inaccuracies. Similarly, fingerprinting-based methods rely heavily on existing infrastructure and exhibit signal variability, making them less reliable in dynamic, real-world conditions. In this study, we analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of different types of wireless signal data and proposed a new deep learning-based method for location estimation that comprehensively integrates these data sources. The core of our research is the introduction of a ‘matching-map image’ conversion technique that efficiently integrates LTE, WiFi, and BLE signals. These generated matching-map images were applied to a deep learning model, enabling highly accurate and stable location estimates even in challenging emergency rescue situations. In real-world experiments, our method, utilizing multi-source data, achieved a positioning success rate of 85.27%, which meets the US FCC’s E911 standards for location accuracy and reliability across various conditions and environments. This makes the proposed approach particularly well-suited for emergency applications, where both accuracy and speed are critical.

It is critical to estimate the location using only Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and Wi-Fi information gathered by the user's smartphone and deployable for emergency rescue, regardless of whether the Global Positioning System is received. In this research, we used a vehicle to gather LTE and Wi-Fi wireless signals over a large area for an extended period of time. After that, we used the learning technique to create a positioning database that included both collection and noncollection points. We presented a two-step positioning algorithm that utilizes coarse localization to discover a rough location in a wide area rapidly and fine localization to estimate a particular location based on the coarse position. We confirmed our technology utilizing different sorts of devices in four regional types that are generally encountered: dense urban, urban, suburban, and rural. Results presented that our algorithm can satisfactorily achieve the target accuracy necessary in emergency rescue circumstances.

Cloud resource providers are putting more and more emphasis on efficiently management the resources of their data centers to achieve high utilization while minimizing energy consumption. Despite these efforts, an analysis of recent data center traces reveals that the utilization of CPU and memory resources has not improved significantly over the past decade. Resource overcommitment is a promising approach to improve resource utilization, because most workloads show a significant gap between their guaranteed and actually consumed resources. A wrong prediction of the actual usage, however, can lead to a severe performance degradation on overloaded nodes. Combining resource overcommitment with live migration of tasks can alleviate the situation, but its prohibitively high cost has so far prevented a wide adoption. Recent and rapid advancements in networking technology, however, are changing the status quo. With throughputs surpassing 100 Gb/s in 2021, even large tasks can be migrated within a few seconds. In light of these improvements, we believe it is time to rethink the application of resource overcommitment and live migration to improve data center resource utilization. Based on real-world cluster traces published by Google in 2019, we show that combining resource overcommitment with task live migration can reduce the mean task turnaround time by 16%, demonstrating that further research in this direction is both warranted and promising.

Hyperlipidemia is involved in serious cardiovascular disease, however, synthetic drugs to reduce lipid contents in blood stream have been found to induce serious side effects. In the current study, we compared anti-oxidant and anti-hyperlipidemic effect of Paecilomyces japonica (PJ), Cordyceps militaris (CM) and cordycepin-rich Cordyceps militaris (CMα) in rats induced alcoholic hyperlipidemia (AIH) and oxidative stress. The experimental groups were divided in N (water), C (30% alcohol), PJ (30% alcohol + 3% PJ powder), CM (30% alcohol + 3% CM powder), CMα (30% alcohol + 3% CMα powder) and SM [30% alcohol + 0.1% silymarin (SM)]. Compared to C group, supplementation of PJ, CM, CMα and SM slightly alleviated the increased weight ratio of liver and kidney in the alcohol-treated rats. In addition, a significant or slight reduction was identified in total lipid, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels in the rats receiving PJ, CM and CMα as compared with C group. Administration of PJ, CM and CMα also blocked alcohol-induced lipid peroxidation via a decrease of malondialdehyde (MDA), and activated anti-oxidant enzyme, glutathione (GSH), in serum and various organ tissues. Overall, cordycepin-rich CMα showed highest anti-oxidant and anti-hyperlipidemia effect under chronic alcoholic damage. Our results indicate that CMα might be useful in inhibiting the oxidation and hyperlipidemia in alcohol-induced hepatic disease possibly because of potential anti-oxidative and anti-hyperlipidemic activities of cordycepin.

Location-based services are used as core services in various fields. In particular, in the field of public services such as emergency rescue, accurate location estimation technology is very important. Recently, the technology of tracking the location of self-isolation subjects for COVID-19 has become a major issue. Therefore, location estimation technology using personal smart devices is being studied in various ways, and the most widely used method is to use GPS. Other representative methods are using Wi-Fi, Pedestrian Dead Reckoning (PDR), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons, and LTE signals. In this paper, we introduced a positioning technology using deep learning based on LTE Channel State Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS) data

Live migration of virtual machines (VMs) enables maintenance, load balancing, and power management in data centers. The cost of live migration on several key metrics combined with strict service-level objectives (SLOs), however, typically limits its practical application to situations where the underlying physical host has to undergo maintenance. As a consequence, the potential benefits of live migration with respect to increased resource usage and lower power consumption remain largely untouched. In this paper, we argue that live migration-aware SLOs combined with smart live migration algorithm selection provides an economically viable model for live migration in data centers. Based on a model predicting key parameters of VM live migration, an optimization algorithm selects the live migration technique that is expected to meet client SLOs while at the same time to optimize target metrics given by the data center operator. A comparison with the state-of-the-art shows that the presented guided live migration technique selection achieves significantly fewer SLO violations while, at the same time, minimizing the effect of live migration on the infrastructure.

We compared hepatoprotective effects between fermented rice bran (FRB) and fermented rice germ and soybean (FRS) in a Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat model of alcohol-induced hepatic injury (AIHI). To establish an SD rat model of AIHI, the SD rats were given 30% ethanol or water without ethanol treatment. Then, they were given 30% ethanol followed by FRB or FRS at concentrations of 15% or 30%. Our results indicate that the FRB might be more effective in lowering serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the serum and liver mitochondria, serum triglyceride levels and ALDH levels at a concentration of 15%, serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), GSH levels at a concentration of 30% and MDA levels in the liver homogenate and microsome, and hepatic triglyceride levels at both concentrations as compared with the FRS. It can therefore be concluded that FRB might also be considered as an alternative to FRS in improving the AIHI.

There is a growing interest in consumption of tropical fruits because of their higher degree of antioxidant effects. In present study, we assessed the antioxidant potential as a functional food using popular three tropical fruits, such as litchi ( Litchi chinensis Sonn.), rambutan ( Nephelium lappaceum L.) and mangosteen ( Garcinia mangostana L.). Tropical fruits were extracted in water, 70% ethanol and 70% methanol for 48 h. Then, we analyzed the antioxidant effects of tropical fruit extracts using α, α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and reducing power assay. The DPPH radical scavenging and TBARS activities showed the highest degree in rambutan 70% ethanol extract compared with other tropical fruit extracts, as well as total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also highly identified in rambutan 70% ethanol extract. Furthermore, DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power was higher in the EtOAc fraction and the F-2 sub-fraction of rambutan 70% ethanol extract as compared with other fractions at the same concentrations. The EtOAc fraction and the F-2 sub-fraction had a large amount of phenols and flavonoids. The antioxidant effects of rambutan extract were closely associated with phenolic compound such as (−)-epicatechin. In conclusion, our results indicate that tropical fruits containing natural antioxidants might be used as supplements for human health, but this deserves further studies.

BACKGROUND:Mulberry silkworm larvae (Bombyx mori) are known as the oldest resource of food and traditional medicine. Although silkworm larvae have been reported to treat various chronic diseases, the effect of fermentation by microorganisms improving the biological activities of silkworm larvae was not reported. In the present study, fermented silkworm larvae was developed via solid-state fermentation with Aspergillus kawachii and investigated its anti-cancer activity in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.METHODS:We investigated the anti-cancer effects of unfermented (SEE) and fermented silkworm larva ethanol extract (FSEE) on HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells as well as compared changes in free amino acid, fatty acid, and mineral contents. Anti-cancer activities were evaluated by SRB staining, cell cycle analysis, Annexin V staining, Hoechst staining, DNA fragmentation analysis and western blot analysis. Fatty acid, free amino acid and mineral contents of SEE and FSEE were determined by gas chromatography, amino acid analyzer and flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer, respectively.RESULTS:Compared with SEE, treatment with FSEE resulted in apoptotic cell death in HepG2 cells characterized by G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest, DNA fragmentation, and formation of apoptotic bodies. Furthermore, FSEE significantly up-regulated pro-apoptotic as well as down-regulated anti-apoptotic proteins in HepG2 cells. However, an equivalent concentration of SEE did not induce cell cycle arrest or apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Moreover, fermentation process by Aspergillus kawachii resulted in enhancement of fatty acid contents in silkworm larvae, whereas amino acid and mineral contents were decreased.CONCLUSION:Collectively, this study demonstrates that silkworm larvae solid state-fermented by Aspergillus kawachii strongly potentiates caspase-dependent and -independent apoptosis pathways in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by regulating secondary metabolites.

We investigated the effect of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae fermented by Bacillus subtilis (FPb) on the orotic-acid-induced fatty livers of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. FPb was found to reduce SD-rat organ size and serum triglyceride levels. Conversely, serum lipid levels were elevated to normal levels, which helped to improve the liver. Total lipid and free fatty acid levels in the serum were lower in the group fed with FPb than in the group fed with Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae (NPb) and showed an overall improvement in lipid metabolism. In a similar manner, the FPb group exhibited an HDL-cholesterol content that was similar to the normal group fed with NPb compared to the group fed only with orotic acid. On the other hand, the group administered with a high concentration of FPb exhibited intracellular toxicity. Pathological observations of liver tissue also revealed that hepatic lobular liver cells were uniformly arranged in the group fed with FPb powder, thereby improving the fatty liver. Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae fermented by Bacillus subtilis improves the non-alcoholic fatty liver and can be used as an effective health food material for enhancing liver function.

This study aimed to investigate the biological activities of aqueous extract of the edible insect Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (PB) larvae fermented by Bacillus subtilis KACC 91157. On the other hand, the soluble solids of PB increased reaching the maximum level about 5.6 °Brix after 7 days of fermentation. Protein concentration also increased during the fermentation period and the highest protein content was measured in the PB fermented for 6 days with B. subtilis. Protein content was analyzed by SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and it was observed that most of the protein bands were completely degraded after 3 days of fermentation. The phenolic and flavonoid compounds were higher in the fermented group than the non-fermented group. They showed the highest amounts during 2-3 days of fermentation. The highest reducing power and DPPH (α,α’-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity were observed in PB fermented for 3 days, and no major changes occurred during the subsequent fermentation. Similarly, fibrinolytic activity was the highest at the 3rd day of fermentation. This experiment showed that fermentation of PB for 3 days by B. subtilis is the optimum time to achieve the desired physicochemical properties and highest biological activities.

We have previously found that mycelia culture broth of eight kinds of traditional herbal extracts fermented with Phellinus linteus (previously named as 8-HsPLCB) not only inhibited melanin and tyrosinase activity, but also reduced the contents of melanogenesis-related proteins, including tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, in 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine-stimulated B16F0 melanoma cells. For a further study, the effect of 8-HsPLCB against skin pigmentation in brown guinea pigs with ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced hyperpigmentation was investigated. 8-HsPLCB (3%) and arbutin (2%) as positive controls were applied topically twice daily for 4 weeks to the hyperpigmented areas. 8-HsPLCB showed skin-lightening effect as effective as arbutin, one of the most widely used in whitening cosmetics. Melanin index values as the degree of pigmentation showed a significant reduction week by week post 8-HsPLCB treatment and then substantially reduced by 4 weeks. The degree of depigmentation after 4 weeks of topical application with 8-HsPLCB was 32.2% as compared with before treatment (0 week). Moreover, using Fontana-Masson staining and hematoxylin-eosin staining, 8-HsPLCB reduced melanin pigmentation in the basal layer of the epidermis and epidermal thickness changes exposed to the UV-B irradiation as compared with non-treatment and vehicle treatment. The intensity of the skin-lightening effect of 8-HsPLCB was similar to arbutin. These results suggest that the skin-lightening effect of 8-HsPLCB might be resulted from inhibition of melanin synthesis by tyrosinase in melanocytes. To conclude, 8-HsPLCB treatment showed reduction of the melanin pigment and histological changes induced by UV irradiation in brown guinea pigs.

본 연구는 유용 미생물을 이용하여 흰점박이 꽃무지 유충을 발효시킨 분말을 수용성, 에탄올, 메탄올 용매별 추출하여 항산화 등의 실험에 임하였다. 발효 균주로는 3종의 유산균 Lactobacillus plantarum JBMI F3, Lactobacillus plantarum JBMI F5, Lactobacullus gasseri Ba9, 1종의 곰팡이 Aspergillus kawachii KCCM 3...

This study aimed to identify the effects of extracts of fermented Angelica gigas Nakai (A. gigas) with a Monascus purpureus strain on anti-obesity in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven dietary groups (n=8 per group), as follows:...

본 연구는 발효 참당귀를 이용한 건강 기능성 식품개발을 위해 산청, 평창 및 제천산 참당귀를 Monascus purpureus로 발효시켜 제조한 발효 참당귀의 이화학적 특성 및 생리활성을 평가하였다. 발효 참당귀의 decursin 및 decursinol angelate 함량은 발효전보다 증가한 바, 평창 참당귀(PA)군의 615.504 및 326.742 ppm이 발효 후 각각 792.610 및 429.500 ppm으로 증가되었다. 총 페놀성 화합물과 플라보노이드 및 미네랄 함량이 발효로 인해 증가하였고, DPPH를 이용한 자유라디칼 소거능 및 Fe, Cu를 이용한 환원력 비교를 통해 발효 참당귀군에서 높게 나타났으며, 이중 FPA군에서 활성이 높은 것을 확인하였다. LPS처리 RAW 264.7세포의 NO생성능과 유방암 세포(MCF-7) 및 간암 세포(Hep3B) 성장 저해능 확인 결과 발효 참당귀군에서 활성이 높게 나타났다. 이와 같이 M. purpureus 발효 산청, 평창 및 제천 참당귀를 비교한 결과 평창 참당귀에서 건강 기능성 식품으로의 활용 가치가 높을 것으로 사료된다.