An Efficient Lagrangean Relaxation-based Object Tracking Algorithm in Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper we propose an energy-efficient object tracking algorithm in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Such sensor networks have to be designed to achieve energy-efficient object tracking for any given arbitrary topology. We consider in particular the bi-directional moving objects with given frequencies for each pair of sensor nodes and link transmission cost. This problem is formulated as a 0/1 integer-programming problem. A Lagrangean relaxation-based (LR-based) heuristic algorithm is proposed for solving the optimization problem. Experimental results showed that the proposed algorithm achieves near optimization in energy-efficient object tracking. Furthermore, the algorithm is very efficient and scalable in terms of the solution time

Strongly Localized Electrons in a Magnetic Field: Exact Results on Quantum Interference and Magnetoconductance

We study quantum interference effects on the transition strength for strongly localized electrons hopping on 2D square and 3D cubic lattices in a magnetic field B. In 2D, we obtain closed-form expressions for the tunneling probability between two arbitrary sites by exactly summing the corresponding phase factors of all directed paths connecting them. An analytic expression for the magnetoconductance, as an explicit function of the magnetic flux, is derived. In the experimentally important 3D case, we show how the interference patterns and the small-B behavior of the magnetoconductance vary according to the orientation of B.Comment: 4 pages, RevTe

Refractory Hypertension and Isosexual Pseudoprecocious Puberty Associated with Renin-Secreting Ovarian Steroid Cell Tumor in a Girl

Steroid cell tumor, not otherwise specified (NOS), are rare ovarian tumor, in addition, it is more rare in children. The majority of these tumors produce several steroid hormones, particularly testosterone. Estrogen also secreted by steroid cell tumor, NOS, but it is uncommon. Furthermore, hypertension is an infrequent sign in steroid cell tumor, NOS. An 8.5-yr-old girl with hypertension and frequent vaginal spotting visited at our clinic. On laboratory evaluation, secondary hypertension due to an elevated plasma renin level and isosexual pseudoprecocious puberty was diagnosed. Right solid ovarian mass was detected in radiologic tests. She underwent a right ooporectomy and it revealed renin and progesterone receptor positive steroid cell tumor, NOS. After operation, her blood pressure returned to normal level and vaginal bleeding disappeared. Even though this case is very rare, when hypertension coincides with virilization or feminization, a renin-secreting ovarian steroid cell tumor, NOS, should be considered

Effective Interventions and Decline of Antituberculosis Drug Resistance in Eastern Taiwan, 2004–2008

BACKGROUND: The Taiwan health authority recently launched several tuberculosis (TB) control interventions, which may have an impact on the epidemic of drug-resistant TB. We conducted a population-based antituberculosis drug resistance surveillance program in Eastern Taiwan to measure the proportions of notified TB patients with anti-TB drug resistance and the trend from 2004 to 2008. METHODS AND FINDINGS: All culture-positive TB patients were enrolled. Drug susceptibility testing results of the first isolate of each TB patient in each treatment course were analyzed. In total, 2688 patients were included, of which 2176 (81.0%) were new TB cases and 512 (19.0%) were previously treated cases. Among the 2176 new TB cases, 97 (4.5%) were retreated after the first episode of TB treatment within the study period. The proportion of new patients with any resistance, isoniazid resistance but not multidrug-resistant TB (resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin, MDR-TB), and MDR-TB was 16.4%, 7.5%, and 4.0%, respectively, and that among previously treated cases was 30.9%, 7.9%, and 17.6%, respectively. The combined proportion of any resistance decreased from 23.3% in 2004 to 14.3% in 2008, and that of MDR-TB from 11.5% to 2.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of TB patients with drug-resistant TB in Eastern Taiwan remains substantial. However, an effective TB control program has successfully driven the proportion of drug resistance among TB patients downward

Analytical results on quantum interference and magnetoconductance for strongly localized electrons in a magnetic field: Exact summation of forward-scattering paths

We study quantum interference effects on the transition strength for strongly localized electrons hopping on 2D square and 3D cubic lattices in the presence of a magnetic field B. These effects arise from the interference between phase factors associated with different electron paths connecting two distinct sites. For electrons confined on a square lattice, with and without disorder, we obtain closed-form expressions for the tunneling probability, which determines the conductivity, between two arbitrary sites by exactly summing the corresponding phase factors of all forward-scattering paths connecting them. An analytic field-dependent expression, valid in any dimension, for the magnetoconductance (MC) is derived. A positive MC is clearly observed when turning on the magnetic field. In 2D, when the strength of B reaches a certain value, which is inversely proportional to twice the hopping length, the MC is increased by a factor of two compared to that at zero field. We also investigate transport on the much less-studied and experimentally important 3D cubic lattice case, where it is shown how the interference patterns and the small-field behavior of the MC vary according to the orientation of B. The effect on the low-flux MC due to the randomness of the angles between the hopping direction and the orientation of B is also examined analytically.Comment: 24 pages, RevTeX, 8 figures include

Long-Term Effects Of River Bed Variations Downstream Of The Shihmen Reservoir Due To Climate Change

Most rivers in Taiwan are suffered from serious sedimentation problems due to extreme weather in recent years. In order to decrease sediment trap in Shihmen Reservoir, the reservoir sediment was effluent into downstream river during flood period. The river sediment deposition and erosion would be thus more violent. The quasi-two dimensional model, NETSTARS, was applied to investigate hydraulic characteristics and corresponding river sedimentation behavior in Da-Han basin. The model was calibrated and verified with field survey data and then was utilized to predict the spatial and temporal variations of downstream suspended solid concentration. Through investigating the change of suspended solid concentration at Yuan-Shan Dam- which is one of the most important water supply facility in Taipei metropolitan area- the success of lowing the suspended solid concentration was certain. The water level and bed elevation movement in typhoon events were investigated via the numerical model at different river reaches. The joint operation of Shihmen sluice gate and Yuan-Shan weir was also discussed for Long-term effects due to climate change

Gene-Gene Interactions in Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Contributes to End-Stage Renal Disease Susceptibility in a Han Chinese Population

Objective. In this study, we investigated whether RAAS gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and their interactions were associated with end-stage renal stage (ESRD). Methodology and Results. This was a case-control study for 647 ESRD cases and 644 controls. AGT (M235T (rs699) and T174M (rs4762)), AGTR1 (A1166C (rs5186) and C573T (rs5182)), ACE (I/D (rs1799752) and G2350A (rs4343)), and CYP11B2 C-344T (rs1799998) were genotyped and compared between cases and controls to identify SNPs associated with ESRD susceptibility. Multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) was used to identify gene-gene interactions. Several RAAS genes were associated with ESRD: AGT M235T, ACE I/D, ACE G2350A, and CYP11B2 C-344T. By MDR analysis, a three-locus model (ACE ID/ACE G2350A/CYP11B2 C-344T) of gene-gene interaction was the best for predicting ESRD risk, and its maximum testing accuracy was 56.08% and maximum cross-validation consistency was 9/10. ESRD risk was higher with the simultaneous occurrence of ACE I/D DD-ACE G2350A AA. AGT, ACE, and CYP11B2 gene polymorphisms are associated with ESRD. Conclusions. The gene-gene interaction effects of ACE I/D, ACE G2350A, and CYP11B2 C-344T polymorphisms are more important than individual factors for ESRD development among Han Chinese

Analgesic Mechanism of Electroacupuncture in an Arthritic Pain Model of Rats: A Neurotransmitter Study

Yonsei University College of Medicine 2011 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Licens

SUMO1 negatively regulates BRCA1-mediated transcription, via modulation of promoter occupancy

BRCA1, a tumor suppressor gene, is implicated in the repression and activation of transcription via interactions with a diverse range of proteins. The mechanisms regulating the action of BRCA1 are not fully understood. Here, we use the promoters of Gadd45α, p27KIP1 and p21WAF1/CIP1 to demonstrate that SUMO1 represses transactivation potential of BRCA1 by causing BRCA1 to be released from the promoters and augmenting histone deacetylation via recruitment of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity. Consistently, silencing of SUMO1 led to recruitment of BRCA1 and release of HDAC1 at the BRCA1 target promoters, and subsequent transcriptional activation of the BRCA1 target genes. Furthermore, a sumoylation-incompetent mutant missing the sumoylation donor site suppressed BRCA1-induced activation of transcription, whereas E2 UBC9 or the dominant-negative mutant UBC9 had no effect, implying that repression of BRCA1-mediated activation of transcription by SUMO1 is independent of sumoylation. Repression of BRCA1-mediated activation of transcription by SUMO1 was reversed by DNA damage by inducing the release of SUMO1 from the Gadd45α promoter and the recruitment of BRCA1, along with increased histone acetylation, to enhance activation of transcription. Together, our data provide evidence that SUMO1 plays a role in the activation-repression switch of BRCA1-mediated transcription via modulation of promoter occupancy