Opportunistic Sensing: Security Challenges for the New Paradigm

We study the security challenges that arise in Opportunistic people-centric sensing, a new sensing paradigm leveraging humans as part of the sensing infrastructure. Most prior sensor-network research has focused on collecting and processing environmental data using a static topology and an application-aware infrastructure, whereas opportunistic sensing involves collecting, storing, processing and fusing large volumes of data related to everyday human activities. This highly dynamic and mobile setting, where humans are the central focus, presents new challenges for information security, because data originates from sensors carried by people— not tiny sensors thrown in the forest or attached to animals. In this paper we aim to instigate discussion of this critical issue, because opportunistic people-centric sensing will never succeed without adequate provisions for security and privacy. To that end, we outline several important challenges and suggest general solutions that hold promise in this new sensing paradigm

Hybrid cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies directed against Treponema

Continuous hybrid cell lines for producing monoclonal antibodies directed against antigens of Treponema pallidum have been developed. The hybrid cell lines were established by fusing differentiated lymphoid cells primed with antigens of Treponema pallidum with hybridoma cells. The resulting fused cells were cloned, isolated, cultured and characterized as to antibody specificity against antigenic determinants of Treponema pallidum.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Sentient Networks

In this paper we consider the question whether a distributed network of sensors and data processors can form "perceptions" based on the sensory data. Because sensory data can have exponentially many explanations, the use of a central data processor to analyze the outputs from a large ensemble of sensors will in general introduce unacceptable latencies for responding to dangerous situations. A better idea is to use a distributed "Helmholtz machine" architecture in which the collective state of the network as a whole provides an explanation for the sensory data.Comment: PostScript, 14 page

The mouse and ferret models for studying the novel avian-origin human influenza A (H7N9) virus.

BackgroundThe current study was conducted to establish animal models (including mouse and ferret) for the novel avian-origin H7N9 influenza virus.FindingsA/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9) virus was administered by intranasal instillation to groups of mice and ferrets, and animals developed typical clinical signs including body weight loss (mice and ferrets), ruffled fur (mice), sneezing (ferrets), and death (mice). Peak virus shedding from respiratory tract was observed on 2 days post inoculation (d.p.i.) for mice and 3-5 d.p.i. for ferrets. Virus could also be detected in brain, liver, spleen, kidney, and intestine from inoculated mice, and in heart, liver, and olfactory bulb from inoculated ferrets. The inoculation of H7N9 could elicit seroconversion titers up to 1280 in ferrets and 160 in mice. Leukopenia, significantly reduced lymphocytes but increased neutrophils were also observed in mouse and ferret models.ConclusionsThe mouse and ferret model enables detailed studies of the pathogenesis of this illness and lay the foundation for drug or vaccine evaluation

Photons Plus Ultrasound: Imaging and Sensing

Imaging and sensing based on fusing the compelling features of optical and ultrasonic waves is the fastest growing area of research in biomedical optics. The annual SPIE conference on this topic, co-chaired by both of us, has been doubling in size approximately every three years since 2003 (Fig. 1). As of 2009, this conference has become the largest at SPIE Photonics West. Hybrid modalities such as photoacoustic or optoacoustic tomography can provide deep tissue penetration, high ultrasonic resolution, and speckle-free optical contrast. Applications include in vivo functional and molecular imaging of cancer, neurophysiology, and vascular disease in both animals and humans. Major challenges include development of quantitative imaging, improvement of contrast and resolution, and commercialization of the technology. We look forward to seeing significant preclinical and clinical impact from this emerging technology

A multifunctional, synthetic Gaussia princeps luciferase reporter for live imaging of Candida albicans infections

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