A Time Synchronized Multi-Hop Mesh Network with Crystal-Free Nodes

In this work we propose and demonstrate a protocol for a time synchronized channel hopping mesh network for wireless transceivers that use exclusively imprecise and inaccurate on-chip oscillators. This protocol is built on an IEEE 802.15.4 physical layer radio that enables interoperability with protocols such as 6TiSCH or Thread. A calibration-bootstrapped multi-hop mesh network is demonstrated with a single crystal-enabled node acting as the root. The protocol is designed to create a multi-hop mesh while compensating noisy and drifting oscillators and timers. With a 4 s synchronization period, an experimental implementation of the network maintains, in the worst case, 1.8 ms 3σ absolute time synchronization and 820 µs 3σ hop-to-hop synchronization across four hops, under ambient environmental conditions. The resistance to environmental variation is tested by varying one node\u27s supply voltage. With time and frequency feedback from received packets, the node maintains this synchronization with a supply variation of 2.5 mV/s, which is equivalent to a temperature variation of 10°C/min with a packet rate of 0.5 Hz

High value information in engineering organizations

The management of information in engineering organizations is facing a particular challenge in the ever-increasing volume of information. It has been recognized that an effective methodology is required to evaluate information in order to avoid information overload and to retain the right information for reuse. By using, as a starting point, a number of the current tools and techniques which attempt to obtain ‘the value’ of information, it is proposed that an assessment or filter mechanism for information is needed to be developed. This paper addresses this issue firstly by briefly reviewing the information overload problem, the definition of value, and related research work on the value of information in various areas. Then a “characteristic” based framework of information evaluation is introduced using the key characteristics identified from related work as an example. A Bayesian Network diagram method is introduced to the framework to build the linkage between the characteristics and information value in order to quantitatively calculate the quality and value of information. The training and verification process for the model is then described using 60 real engineering documents as a sample. The model gives a reasonable accurate result and the differences between the model calculation and training judgments are summarized as the potential causes are discussed. Finally several further the issues including the challenge of the framework and the implementations of this evaluation assessment method are raised

Information evaluation: empirical investigations in engineering organisations

The management of information in engineering organizations is facing a particular challenge due to the ever-increasing volume of information needs to be dealt with. It has been recognized that an effective methodology is required to evaluate information in order to avoid information overload and to retain the right information for reuse. By whatever approaches, information evaluation judgments are made in those engineering organizations in order to support businesses decisions. Investigating those practical methodologies would benefit the overall information evaluation research. This paper addresses this practical information evaluation issue firstly by briefly reviewing the idea of information evaluation, the definition of value, and related research work on the value of information in various areas. Then a series of industrial empirical investigation activities, based on interviews in engineering organizations, are introduced. The evaluation approaches in those organizations are analyzed and compared according to the nature of each of the organizations. The current practices are then summarized. Finally, several further issues including the impact of the newly developed information evaluation methodologies and the implementation issues associated with this evaluation assessment method are raised

Defining a framework for the evaluation of information

In any enterprise, principled decisions need be made during the entire life cycle of information about its acquisition, storage, creation, maintenance and disposal. Such information management requires some form of information evaluation to take place, yet little is understood about the process of information evaluation within enterprises. For evaluation support to be both effective and resource efficient, particularly where decisions are being made about the future of large quantities of information, it would be invaluable if some sort of automatic or semi-automatic methods were available for evaluation. Such a method would require an understanding of the diversity of the contexts in which evaluation takes place so that evaluation support can have the necessary context-sensitivity. This paper identifies the dimensions that influence the information evaluation process and defines the elements that characterize these dimensions, thus providing the foundations for a context-sensitive framework for information evaluation

Knowledge and information evaluation practice - an exploratory study in a construction firm

There are a number of challenges associated with managing knowledge and information in construction organizations delivering major capital assets. These include the ever-increasing volumes of information, losing people because of retirement or competitors, the continuously changing nature of information, lack of methods on eliciting useful knowledge, development of new information technologies and changes in management and innovation practices. Existing tools and methodologies for valuing intangible assets in fields such as engineering, project management and financial, accounting, do not address fully the issues associated with the valuation of information and knowledge. Information is rarely recorded in a way that a document can be valued, when either produced or subsequently retrieved and re-used. In addition, there is a wealth of tacit personal knowledge which, if codified into documentary information, may prove to be very valuable to operators of the finished asset or future designers. This paper addresses the problem of information overload and identifies the differences between data, information and knowledge. An exploratory study was conducted with a leading construction consultant examining three perspectives (business, project management and document management) by structured interviews and specifically how to value information in practical terms. Major challenges in information management are identified. An through-life Information Evaluation methodology (IEM) is presented to reduce information overload and to make the information more valuable in the future

Overload of information or lack of high value information: lessons learnt from construction

Information and knowledge are strategic assets, processed to attain objectives, perform actions and make decisions. However, technological innovations can change the format of information and often result in more complicated project information or knowledge management tools whilst this can provide information to an individual more easily and quickly. Current systems have little or no regard for the value of the information they contain. As projects draw to a close, some organisations are now asking what information is worth retaining and how might it be reused. This paper addresses the problems of information overload and value in the construction industry. Exploratory studies compared two major consultants in the UK from three perspectives (business, project management and document management). Major challenges in the current information evaluation practice in the industry were identified. Information overload does exist in the industry and is getting worse because of the heavy but often inappropriate use of search and collaborative technologies. Loss of high value information due to staff leaving is a major problem, but the companies are reluctant to evaluate recorded information (before or after storage) for future retrieval. From the strategic point of view, there is a lack of information evaluation tools that quantify the benefits and costs of performing information evaluation activities and the effects on storage. Based on these findings, a through-life Information Evaluation Methodology (IEM) has been proposed to allow high value information to be easily retrievable in the future in order to support through-life knowledge and information management (KIM) practice

Perceptions of genetic risk, testing, and counseling among individuals with eating disorders

Objective: Eating disorders develop as a result of genetic and environmental factors. Given that they are multifactorial conditions with a genetic component, they fall within the scope of practice for genetic counseling, but people with these conditions are rarely referred. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of causes of eating disorders, recurrence risk, and interest in genetic counseling and testing among individuals with eating disorders. Method: An online survey comprising both multiple choice and free form text questions, vignettes about genetic counseling, and the ED100K (validated eating disorder diagnostic questionnaire) was shared via support organizations and prominent bloggers in the eating disorders community to recruit individuals with a personal history of an eating disorder from November 2018 to February 2019. Results: In total, 107 participants completed the survey. They perceived that both experiences and genetics were important factors in the development of their eating disorder. All responding participants overestimated the risk for recurrence of eating disorders in children, often by a large margin, and a notable minority reported that their experience with an eating disorder had a negative influence on their childbearing decisions. After imagined experience of genetic counseling, participants reported significantly decreased feelings of stigma, shame, and guilt. Most participants expressed interest in genetic counseling; fewer were interested in genetic testing. Discussion: Genetic counseling may benefit individuals with eating disorders by providing accurate recurrence risk information and reducing feelings of guilt, stigma, and shame, which may in turn encourage earlier support seeking and recovery

TAK1 and TBK1 are Differentially Required by GMP- and LMPP-like Leukemia Stem Cells

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) encompasses a diverse group of cancers that originate in the blood-forming tissues of the bone marrow. Aside from the M3 subtype (PML-RARA+), AML carries a 5-year survival rate of 28% for patients 20+ years of age. AML is the most common cancer of the hematopoietic system and is slightly more common in biological males; the average age at diagnosis is 68 years. Standard frontline treatment for AML is a 2-phase regimen of intensive chemotherapy (CTx) employing daunorubicin and cytarabine. Despite 60-70% of patients achieving complete remission (CR), at least half of CR-achieving patients experience relapse within 3 years from their diagnosis. Additionally, 30-40% of patients present with refractory AML, experiencing little to no benefit from frontline treatment. AML relapses when a pool of undetectable, CTx-resistant leukemia stem cells (LSCs) survives & proliferates after frontline CTx [1]. Notably, the poor performance status of many AML patients precludes use of the standard CTx regimen; while reduced-intensity CTx still offers therapeutic benefit, it is less effective at killing LSCs and, as a result, relapse is more likely. Goardon, et al. determined that AML patients harbor two types of LSCs: granulocyte-macrophage progenitor (GMP)-like LSCs and FLT3+ lymphoid-primed multipotential progenitor (LMPP)-like LSCs [2]. Eradication of both types of LSCs is necessary to maintain CR in AML. Our group and others have established that ~40% of AML patients express upregulated Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling (TLR+). TLR+ disease is associated with specific genetic abnormalities, such as MLL rearrangements (MLL-r+), and is inversely associated with prognosis (Figure 1) [3,4]. TLR+ AML represents a challenging, treatment-sparse subset of an already difficult-to-treat disease. To study TLR+ AML, we utilize an MLL-r+ model using the MLL-AF9 oncogene. We have also demonstrated that both GMP- and LMPP-like LSCs require TLR-associated Ser/Thr protein kinases for their survival [5-7]. Specifically, GMP-like LSCs require TAK1 and LMPP-like LSCs require TBK1. The loss of either Tak1 or Tbk1 ablates the corresponding LSC pool and enriches for the opposite LSC pool in vitro and in vivo. Recently, our group determined that the genetic loss of Tak1 sensitizes mouse AML cells to TBK1 blockade in vitro. Strikingly, the loss of Tbk1 also seems to extend overall survival (OS) despite causing extramedullary AML. While mice given Tbk1NULL AML cells develop a subcutaneous tumor of AML cells (chloroma) near the pelvis, they survive longer than mice given control (Tbk1WT) AML cells. The clinical significance is unknown, but these data support our impression that the loss of Tbk1 forces AML cells to differentiate; this should be therapeutically favorable, as inducing the differentiation of AML cells is an effective treatment strategy. Theoretically, chloromas may form in Tbk1NULL AML due to the enrichment of GMP-like LSCs, which express higher levels of chemokine receptors. We hypothesize that the differentiation & eradication of LSCs can be induced by blocking TAK1/TBK1 in combination with standard CTx (and possibly targeted agents like Mylotarg®, Venclexta®, and/or Xospata®). We propose TAK1/TBK1 parallel blockade as augmentation to standard CTx, ideally allowing for a dose-reduction of CTx & promoting improved patient outcomes

Evidence for Shape Co-existence at medium spin in 76Rb

Four previously known rotational bands in 76Rb have been extended to moderate spins using the Gammasphere and Microball gamma ray and charged particle detector arrays and the 40Ca(40Ca,3pn) reaction at a beam energy of 165 MeV. The properties of two of the negative-parity bands can only readily be interpreted in terms of the highly successful Cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky model calculations if they have the same configuration in terms of the number of g9/2 particles, but they result from different nuclear shapes (one near-oblate and the other near-prolate). These data appear to constitute a unique example of shape co-existing structures at medium spins.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physics Letters

Nonequilibrium Evolution of Correlation Functions: A Canonical Approach

We study nonequilibrium evolution in a self-interacting quantum field theory invariant under space translation only by using a canonical approach based on the recently developed Liouville-von Neumann formalism. The method is first used to obtain the correlation functions both in and beyond the Hartree approximation, for the quantum mechanical analog of the $\phi^{4}$ model. The technique involves representing the Hamiltonian in a Fock basis of annihilation and creation operators. By separating it into a solvable Gaussian part involving quadratic terms and a perturbation of quartic terms, it is possible to find the improved vacuum state to any desired order. The correlation functions for the field theory are then investigated in the Hartree approximation and those beyond the Hartree approximation are obtained by finding the improved vacuum state corrected up to ${\cal O}(\lambda^2)$. These correlation functions take into account next-to-leading and next-to-next-to-leading order effects in the coupling constant. We also use the Heisenberg formalism to obtain the time evolution equations for the equal-time, connected correlation functions beyond the leading order. These equations are derived by including the connected 4-point functions in the hierarchy. The resulting coupled set of equations form a part of infinite hierarchy of coupled equations relating the various connected n-point functions. The connection with other approaches based on the path integral formalism is established and the physical implications of the set of equations are discussed with particular emphasis on thermalization.Comment: Revtex, 32 pages; substantial new material dealing with non-equilibrium evolution beyond Hartree approx. based on the LvN formalism, has been adde