Hybrid approach for localization in anisotropic sensor networks

In many real-world applications including agricultural, meterological, military applications, etc, localization techniques are widely used to estimate the geographic locations of sensor nodes based on the precision positions of a few anchors equipped with special hardware. Existing localization algorithms mainly try to improve their accuracy in position estimation by using various heuristic-based or mathematical techniques. Every node in the network follows the same technique to find its physical location. However, each individual method with its own strength can only outperform the others in some but not all nodes. Based on this observation, we develop a hybrid approach for the localization problem. Each node collects the same kind of information. By analysing the information, a node can decide what is the best localization algorithm to use. Different nodes can make their own decisions. Our simulation results reveal that the hybrid approach is effective that it outpeforms existing algorithms. To the best of our knowledge, our work presents the first effort in solving the absolute localization problem by adopting a hybrid approach. © 2006 IEEE.published_or_final_versio

Improving localization in wireless sensor networks with an evolutionary algorithm

Wireless sensor networks are highly useful for many location-sensitive applications including environmental monitoring, military applications, disaster management, etc. Localization in wireless sensor networks concerns about the precise estimation of node positions given a relatively small portion as anchor nodes with their absolute positions predetermined. Intrinsically, localization is an unconstrained optimization problem based on various distance/path measures. Most of the existing work focus on increasing the accuracy in position estimation typically by using different heuristic-based or mathematical techniques. On the other hand, there were many complex optimization problems successfully tackled by the nature inspired search algorithms including the ant-based or genetic algorithms. In this paper, we propose to adapt an evolutionary approach, namely a microgenetic algorithm, and integrate as a post-optimizer into some existing localization techniques such as the Ad-hoc Positioning System (APS) to further improve their position estimation. Clearly, our proposed MGA is so adaptable that it can easily be integrated into other localization methods. More importantly, the remarkable improvements obtained by the prototype of our proposed evolutionary optimizer on certain anisotropic topologies of our simulation tests prompt for further investigation. © 2006 IEEE.published_or_final_versio

Intervenções do enfermeiro especialista em enfermagem de reabilitação no cuidar da pessoa com demência

Os progressos tecnológicos ao nível das ciências da saúde e a melhoria das condições socioeconómicas têm contribuído para o aumento do envelhecimento demográfico e da longevidade da população, à qual se deve uma maior prevalência das doenças crónicas, das quais se destaca, a demência, o que implica à sociedade uma crescente necessidade de cuidados de natureza física, emocional e social. A demência é um problema de saúde pública, cada vez mais evidente na sociedade. A demência corresponde a uma síndrome de etiologia variada relacionada com processos cerebrais patológicos que afetam a memória, o pensamento, o comportamento e as capacidades funcionais para a realização das atividades de vida diária (AVD). Existem vários tipos de demência, sendo a doença de Alzheimer (DA) a mais comum. O aumento esperado da demência provocará a necessidade do aumento de cuidados de saúde de enfermagem qualificados, uma vez que existirá maior dependência da pessoa com demência nas AVD. Os dados estatísticos e os estudos desenvolvidos revelam que esta problemática se torna atual e pertinente à intervenção do Enfermeiro Especialista em Enfermagem de Reabilitação (EEER). Este relatório expõe o percurso de atividades desenvolvidas em contexto de Ensino Clínico (hospitalar e comunitário), tendo como objetivo refletir sobre as intervenções que permitiram o desenvolvimento de competências preconizadas nos descritores de Dublin para o 2º ciclo de ensino para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em articulação com as competências definidas pela Ordem dos Enfermeiros (OE) para a atribuição do título profissional de EEER. Este trabalho foi dirigido pelo projeto de estágio com o intuito de intervir no cuidar da pessoa com demência. Neste sentido, a abordagem a esta temática mobiliza a Teoria do Défice do Autocuidado de Enfermagem de Orem, sendo este um modelo teórico adequado ao objetivo do trabalho, uma vez que sustenta a relevância de cuidar de pessoas que se encontram dependentes pelo seu estado de saúde. O título do trabalho é “Intervenções do Enfermeiro Especialista em Enfermagem de Reabilitação no Cuidar da Pessoa com Demência”

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus M protein suppresses type I interferon expression through the inhibition of TBK1-dependent phosphorylation of IRF3

published_or_final_versio

Additional molecular testing of saliva specimens improves the detection of respiratory viruses

published_or_final_versio

An examination of the long-term business value of investments in information technology

In this paper, we examine the effects of investments in Information Technology (IT) on the long term business values of organizations. The regression discontinuity design is used in this research to examine eight hundred and ten IT investment announcements collected from the period 1982–2007. Our results found that press releases can affect the market value of a firm by possibly providing investors with a better idea of a firm’s current and future operations and strategy. On the other hand, these press releases also appear to attract more transient investors. The attraction of transient investors likely suggests the market believes the IT investing firm is serious about its potential for growth and expansion

Transcriptional Profiling of Chondrodysplasia Growth Plate Cartilage Reveals Adaptive ER-Stress Networks That Allow Survival but Disrupt Hypertrophy

Metaphyseal chondrodysplasia, Schmid type (MCDS) is characterized by mild short stature and growth plate hypertrophic zone expansion, and caused by collagen X mutations. We recently demonstrated the central importance of ER stress in the pathology of MCDS by recapitulating the disease phenotype by expressing misfolding forms of collagen X (Schmid) or thyroglobulin (Cog) in the hypertrophic zone. Here we characterize the Schmid and Cog ER stress signaling networks by transcriptional profiling of microdissected mutant and wildtype hypertrophic zones. Both models displayed similar unfolded protein responses (UPRs), involving activation of canonical ER stress sensors and upregulation of their downstream targets, including molecular chaperones, foldases, and ER-associated degradation machinery. Also upregulated were the emerging UPR regulators Wfs1 and Syvn1, recently identified UPR components including Armet and Creld2, and genes not previously implicated in ER stress such as Steap1 and Fgf21. Despite upregulation of the Chop/Cebpb pathway, apoptosis was not increased in mutant hypertrophic zones. Ultrastructural analysis of mutant growth plates revealed ER stress and disrupted chondrocyte maturation throughout mutant hypertrophic zones. This disruption was defined by profiling the expression of wildtype growth plate zone gene signatures in the mutant hypertrophic zones. Hypertrophic zone gene upregulation and proliferative zone gene downregulation were both inhibited in Schmid hypertrophic zones, resulting in the persistence of a proliferative chondrocyte-like expression profile in ER-stressed Schmid chondrocytes. Our findings provide a transcriptional map of two chondrocyte UPR gene networks in vivo, and define the consequences of UPR activation for the adaptation, differentiation, and survival of chondrocytes experiencing ER stress during hypertrophy. Thus they provide important insights into ER stress signaling and its impact on cartilage pathophysiology

Immunohistochemical discrimination of wild-type EGFR from EGFRvIII in fixed tumour specimens using anti-EGFR mAbs ICR9 and ICR10

Background:The human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an important therapeutic target in oncology, and three different types of EGFR inhibitors have been approved for the treatment of cancer patients. However, there has been no clear association between the expression levels of EGFR protein in the tumours determined by the FDA-approved EGFR PharmDx kit (Dako) or other standard anti-EGFR antibodies and the response to the EGFR inhibitors.Method:In this study, we investigated the potential of our anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies (mAbs; ICR9, ICR10, ICR16) for immunohistochemical diagnosis of wild-type EGFR and/or the type-III deletion mutant form of EGFR (EGFRvIII) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human tumour specimens.Results:We found that the anti-EGFR mAb in the EGFR PharmDx kit stained both wild-type and EGFRvIII-expressing cells in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections. This pattern of EGFR immunostaining was also found with our anti-EGFR mAb ICR16. In contrast, mAbs ICR10 and ICR9 were specific for the wild-type EGFR.Conclusion:We conclude that mAbs ICR9 and ICR10 are ideal tools for investigating the expression patterns of wild-type EGFR protein in tumour specimens using immunohistochemistry, and to determine their prognostic significance, as well as predictive value for response to therapy with EGFR antibodies.British Journal of Cancer advance online publication, 7 February 2012; doi:10.1038/bjc.2012.27 www.bjcancer.com

A review of tennis racket performance parameters

The application of advanced engineering to tennis racket design has influenced the nature of the sport. As a result, the International Tennis Federation has established rules to limit performance, with the aim of protecting the nature of the game. This paper illustrates how changes to the racket affect the player-racket system. The review integrates engineering and biomechanical issues related to tennis racket performance, covering the biomechanical characteristics of tennis strokes, tennis racket performance, the effect of racket parameters on ball rebound and biomechanical interactions. Racket properties influence the rebound of the ball. Ball rebound speed increases with frame stiffness and as string tension decreases. Reducing inter-string contacting forces increases rebound topspin. Historical trends and predictive modelling indicate swingweights of around 0.030–0.035 kg/m2 are best for high ball speed and accuracy. To fully understand the effect of their design changes, engineers should use impact conditions in their experiments, or models, which reflect those of actual tennis strokes. Sports engineers, therefore, benefit from working closely with biomechanists to ensure realistic impact conditions

Rehabilitation needs for older adults with stroke living at home: perceptions of four populations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many people who have suffered a stroke require rehabilitation to help them resume their previous activities and roles in their own environment, but only some of them receive inpatient or even outpatient rehabilitation services. Partial and unmet rehabilitation needs may ultimately lead to a loss of functional autonomy, which increases utilization of health services, number of hospitalizations and early institutionalization, leading to a significant psychological and financial burden on the patients, their families and the health care system. The aim of this study was to explore partially met and unmet rehabilitation needs of older adults who had suffered a stroke and who live in the community. The emphasis was put on needs that act as obstacles to social participation in terms of personal factors, environmental factors and life habits, from the point of view of four target populations.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using the focus group technique, we met four types of experts living in three geographic areas of the province of Québec (Canada): older people with stroke, caregivers, health professionals and health care managers, for a total of 12 groups and 72 participants. The audio recordings of the meetings were transcribed and NVivo software was used to manage the data. The process of reducing, categorizing and analyzing the data was conducted using themes from the Disability Creation Process model.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Rehabilitation needs persist for nine capabilities (e.g. related to behaviour or motor activities), nine factors related to the environment (e.g. type of teaching, adaptation and rehabilitation) and 11 life habits (e.g. nutrition, interpersonal relationships). The caregivers and health professionals identified more unmet needs and insisted on an individualized rehabilitation. Older people with stroke and the health care managers had a more global view of rehabilitation needs and emphasized the availability of resources.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Better knowledge of partially met or unmet rehabilitation needs expressed by the different types of people involved should lead to increased attention being paid to education for caregivers, orientation of caregivers towards resources in the community, and follow-up of patients' needs in terms of adjustment and rehabilitation, whether for improving their skills or for carrying out their activities of daily living.</p