An Optimized IoT-enabled Big Data Analytics Architecture for Edge-Cloud Computing.

The awareness of edge computing is attaining eminence and is largely acknowledged with the rise of Internet of Things (IoT). Edge-enabled solutions offer efficient computing and control at the network edge to resolve the scalability and latency-related concerns. Though, it comes to be challenging for edge computing to tackle diverse applications of IoT as they produce massive heterogeneous data. The IoT-enabled frameworks for Big Data analytics face numerous challenges in their existing structural design, for instance, the high volume of data storage and processing, data heterogeneity, and processing time among others. Moreover, the existing proposals lack effective parallel data loading and robust mechanisms for handling communication overhead. To address these challenges, we propose an optimized IoT-enabled big data analytics architecture for edge-cloud computing using machine learning. In the proposed scheme, an edge intelligence module is introduced to process and store the big data efficiently at the edges of the network with the integration of cloud technology. The proposed scheme is composed of two layers: IoT-edge and Cloud-processing. The data injection and storage is carried out with an optimized MapReduce parallel algorithm. Optimized Yet Another Resource Negotiator (YARN) is used for efficiently managing the cluster. The proposed data design is experimentally simulated with an authentic dataset using Apache Spark. The comparative analysis is decorated with existing proposals and traditional mechanisms. The results justify the efficiency of our proposed work.

Evaluation of chemical characterization and antihyperlipidemic potential of orange peel powder (Citrus sinensis) in male human subjects.

Citrus sinensis is an important member of the genus Citrus which contains phenolic compounds and bioflavonoids which have antihyperlipidemic and antiatherogenic effects. It also has the potential to reduce oxidative stress. To investigate the antihyperlipidemic effect of orange peel powder was encapsulated and analyzed in hyperlipidemic patients. Results showed that it contains moisture (12.2%), ash content (7.9%), crude fat (0.78%), crude protein (12.37%) and crude fiber (13.2%). Total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were observed as 163.17 mg and 17.23mg in quercetin equivalent per gram a dry weight basis. Furthermore, the Orange peel powder was given in the form of medicinal capsules to hyperlipidemia male subjects. The experimental groups (G1 and G2) were given orange peel powder in capsules 400mg/d to the G1 group and 800mg/d to the G2 group for the time of 45 days. The serum lipid profile of patients was measured before and after the experimental trial. The result showed that G1 and G2 showed a decrease in plasma lipid parameters and increased high-density lipoprotein content in blood substantially as compared to G0. Thus, it was concluded from the results that orange peel powder depicts a significant impact on treating hyperlipidemia.

Efficiency, market concentration and bank performance during the COVID-19 outbreak: Evidence from the MENA region.

This study aims to contribute to the existing literature that explores the impact of market concentration on bank efficiency in emerging economies. Using a sample of 225 banks in 18 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region over the period 2006-2020, we empirically investigate the significance of this relationship. Since the evidence of concentration effect on efficiency during the COVID-19 outbreak is ambiguous, we test the hypothesis that the efficiency is positively affected by the level of banking market concentration in the MENA region. We adopt fixed effect model specifications and test the robustness of our results with the two-step Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation technique. Our analysis finds a strong positive association between market concentration and bank efficiency. The analysis of different types of banking systems that co-existing in the MENA region (Islamic and conventional) indicates the market concentration effect is more pronounced when the banking institution is Islamic and during the COVID-19 outbreak. Moreover, the better economic performance of Islamic banks during the initial stage of pandemic further increases their efficiency. Our analysis indicated that the impact of market competitive conditions on bank efficiency varies significantly across banks with different ownership structures and is more pronounced for government-owned banks. The results are robust using different model specifications and alternative estimation techniques.

Description of Dissolved Organic Matter Transformational Networks at the Molecular Level.

Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) is an important component of the global carbon cycle. Unscrambling the structural footprint of DOM is key to understand its biogeochemical transformations at the mechanistic level. Although numerous studies have improved our knowledge of DOM chemical makeup, its three-dimensional picture remains largely unrevealed. In this work, we compare four solid phase extracted (SPE) DOM samples from three different freshwater ecosystems using high resolution mobility and ultrahigh-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance tandem mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS/MS). Structural families were identified based on neutral losses at the level of nominal mass using continuous accumulation of selected ions-collision induced dissociation (CASI-CID)FT-ICR MS/MS. Comparison of the structural families indicated dissimilarities in the structural footprint of this sample set. The structural family representation using Cytoscape software revealed characteristic clustering patterns among the DOM samples, thus confirming clear differences at the structural level (Only 10% is common across the four samples.). The analysis at the level of neutral loss-based functionalities suggests that hydration and carboxylation are ubiquitous transformational processes across the three ecosystems. In contrast, transformation mechanisms involving methoxy moieties may be constrained in estuarine systems due to extensive upstream lignin biodegradation. The inclusion of the isomeric content (mobility measurements at the level of chemical formula) in the structural family description suggests that additional transformation pathways and/or source variations are possible and account for the dissimilarities observed. While the structural character of more and diverse types of DOM samples needs to be assessed and added to this database, the results presented here demonstrate that Graph-DOM is a powerful tool capable of providing novel information on the DOM chemical footprint, based on structural interconnections of precursor molecules generated by fragmentation pathways and collisional cross sections.

Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma With Meningothelial-Like Whorls: Five Additional Cases and Review of the Literature.

Background. Diagnosis of dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDL) can sometimes be challenging due to a wide variety of histological features. "Meningothelial-like" whorl is an uncommon histological feature of DDL, which is also observed in neural tumors and follicular dendritic cell sarcoma. This feature is frequently associated with metaplastic bone formation. We conducted this study to describe the clinicopathological features of DDL with meningothelial-like whorls that would aid in establishing accurate diagnosis. Material and Methods. Microscopic glass slides of 5 cases of DDL with meningothelial-like whorls, diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2019, were reviewed. Results. Paratesticular region was the most common site. Whorls occupied 10% to 75% of tumor area and ranged in size from <0.1 cm to >2 cm. In 1 case, these whorls coalesced to form large areas of dedifferentiation. The cells forming whorls were spindle to epithelioid shaped and lacked significant nuclear pleomorphism and increased mitoses. Metaplastic bone formation was observed in 4 cases and cartilage formation in 3 cases. p16 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) immunohistochemical stains were positive in 2 cases, when performed. MDM2 gene amplification was observed in all cases by fluorescence in situ hybridization technique. These tumors showed aggressive behavior, similar to that of DDL without meningothelial-like whorls. Two patients died, 1 developed recurrence, 1 presented as recurrent tumor, and 1 developed metastasis. Conclusion. Meningothelial-like whorls in DDL most likely represent an early stage of dedifferentiation. Presence of well-differentiated liposarcoma areas, metaplastic bone formation, positive expressions for p16 and α-SMA immunohistochemical stains, and MDM2 gene amplification are useful diagnostic clues. These tumors have the potential to behave aggressively.