In-Network Outlier Detection in Wireless Sensor Networks

To address the problem of unsupervised outlier detection in wireless sensor networks, we develop an approach that (1) is flexible with respect to the outlier definition, (2) computes the result in-network to reduce both bandwidth and energy usage,(3) only uses single hop communication thus permitting very simple node failure detection and message reliability assurance mechanisms (e.g., carrier-sense), and (4) seamlessly accommodates dynamic updates to data. We examine performance using simulation with real sensor data streams. Our results demonstrate that our approach is accurate and imposes a reasonable communication load and level of power consumption.Comment: Extended version of a paper appearing in the Int'l Conference on Distributed Computing Systems 200

Development and characterization of phytosterol-enriched oil microcapsules for foodstuff application

Phytosterols are lipophilic compounds contained in plants and have several biological activities. The use of phytosterols in food fortification is hampered due to their high melting temperature, chalky taste, and low solubility in an aqueous system. Also, phytosterols are easily oxidized and are poorly absorbed by the human body. Formulation engineering coupled with microencapsulation could be used to overcome these problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of encapsulating soybean oil enriched with phytosterols by spray-drying using ternary mixtures of health-promoting ingredients, whey protein isolate (WPI), inulin, and chitosan as carrier agents. The effect of different formulations and spray-drying conditions on the microencapsules properties, encapsulation efficiency, surface oil content, and oxidation stability were studied. It was found that spherical WPI-inulin-chitosan phytosterol-enriched soybean oil microcapsules with an average size below 50 μm could be produced with good encapsulation efficiency (85%), acceptable level of surface oil (11%), and water activity (0.2–0.4) that meet industrial requirements. However, the microcapsules showed very low oxidation stability with peroxide values reaching 101.7 meq O2/kg of oil just after production, and further investigations and optimization are required before any industrial application of this encapsulated system

Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Meat Quality of Broiler Chickens Fed β-Mannanase and Two Levels of Energy

This study aimed at evaluating the response to supplementation of β-Mannanase with two levels of energy on performance, carcass yield, and meat quality of 1600 1-d-old straight run Indian River broilers which were randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments (10 replicates/treatment, 40 chicks per replicate) in a 35-d feeding trial. The trial consisted of 2 phases, starter (0 to 14 d) and grower (15 to 35 d). The experiment was designed in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. The first factor was the energy level of the ration consisted of 2 levels, i.e., a low energy level with 2.900 kcal ME/kg during the starter phase and 3.000 kcal ME/kg during the grower phase; and a normal energy level with 3020 kcal ME/kg during starter phase and 3120 kcal ME/kg during grower phase, with variations based on the content of feed grade soybean oil. The second factor was the level of β-Mannanase in the diet consisted of 2 levels, i.e., ration without β-Mannanase (BETAMINUS: 0%) and ration with 0.05% β-Mannanase (BETAPLUS: 0.05%). Feeding low ME increased feed intake (p<0.05) during the overall phase (0 to 35 d) and normal ME decreased (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio during the starter and overall phases. Birds fed normal ME exhibited higher (p<0.05) hot and cold carcass weights. There was a significant interaction between dietary ME level and β-Mannanase to breast meat pH (p= 0.006), meat redness (a*) (p= 0.01), and meat yellowness (b*) (p= 0.0001). In conclusion, the results of enzyme supplementation did not elicit any noticeable response pertaining to productive performance, carcass characteristics, or meat quality (except pH and meat color). Moreover, feeding low dietary ME and β-Mannanase did not compromise overall broiler chickens performance

A Multicenter Report on the Safety and Efficacy of Plerixafor Based Stem Cell Mobilization in Children with Malignant Disorders

BACKGROUND: Pleraxifor for peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) mobilization in children with malignancies is often given following failure of standard mobilization (SM) rather than as a primary mobilizing agent. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this retrospective multicenter study, we report the safety of plerixafor-based PBSC mobilization in children with malignancies and compare outcomes between patients who received plerixafor upfront with SM (Group A) with those who received plerixafor following failure of SM (Group B). In the latter pleraxifor was given either following a low peripheral blood (PB) CD34 (/cu.mm) (Group B1) or as a second collection process due to an unsuccessful yield (CD34 + \u3c 2 × 10 RESULTS: The study cohort (n = 47) with a median age of 8 (range 0.6-21) year, comprised 19 (40%) Group A and 28 (60%) Group B patients (B1 = 12 and B2 = 16). Pleraxifor mobilization was successful in 87.2% of patients, similar between Groups A and B (84.2% vs 89.2%) and resulted in a median 4-fold increase in PB CD34. Median number of apheresis attempts was 2 in Groups A and B1 but 4 in Group B2. In Group B2, median total CD34+ yield post-plerixafor was 9-fold higher than after SM (P = .0013). Mild to moderate transient adverse events affected 8.5% of patients. Among patients who proceeded to autologous transplant (n = 39), all but one engrafted. CONCLUSION: Plerixafor-based PBSC collection was safe and effective in our cohort and supports consideration as a primary mobilizing agent in children with malignancies