HIT and brain reward function: a case of mistaken identity (theory)

This paper employs a case study from the history of neuroscience—brain reward function—to scrutinize the inductive argument for the so-called ‘Heuristic Identity Theory’ (HIT). The case fails to support HIT, illustrating why other case studies previously thought to provide empirical support for HIT also fold under scrutiny. After distinguishing two different ways of understanding the types of identity claims presupposed by HIT and considering other conceptual problems, we conclude that HIT is not an alternative to the traditional identity theory so much as a relabeling of previously discussed strategies for mechanistic discovery

Dynamic capacity planning of wireless networks using user mobility behavior in smart cities

Paper published for the IEEE Smart Cities Workshop: Crossing Discipline Boundaries for Smart Cities, Kansas City, MO, Feb. 8-9, 2016.Smart cities are envisioned as the organic integration of systems to provide valuable information for its citizens and service providers. One such example is user mobility behavior information (use of user location data) related to wireless network consumption and demands. In this paper, we propose the use of this data in a novel manner for capacity planning purposes in wireless networks. We approach fifth generation (5G) capacity planning by considering Cloud Radio Access Networks and Software Defined Mobile Networks to improve dynamic resource allocation. Privacy concerns are also addressed

QoS and channel-aware packet bundeling for capacity improvement in cellular networks

We study the problem of multiple packet bundling to improve spectral efficiency in cellular networks. The packet size of real-time data, such as VoIP, is often very small. However, the common use of time division multiplexing limits the number of VoIP users supported, because a packet has to wait until it receives a time slot, and if only one small VoIP packet is placed in a time slot, capacity is wasted. Packet bundling can alleviate such a problem by sharing a time slot among multiple users. A recent revision of cdma2000 1xEV-DO introduced the concept of the multi-user packet (MUP) in the downlink to overcome limitations on the number of time slots. However, the efficacy of packet bundling is not well understood, particularly in the presence of time varying channels. We propose a novel QoS and channel-aware packet bundling algorithm that takes advantage of adaptive modulation and coding. We show that optimal algorithms are NP-complete, recommend heuristic approaches, and use analytical performance modeling to show the gains in capacity that can be achieved from our packet bundling algorithms. We show that channel utilization can be significantly increased by slightly delaying some real-time packets within their QoS requirements while bundling those packets with like channel conditions. We validate our study through extensive OPNET simulations with a complete EV-DO implementation.Supported in part by U.S. National Science Foundation under grant no. 072971

Distinct disease mutations in DNMT3A result in a spectrum of behavioral, epigenetic, and transcriptional deficits

Phenotypic heterogeneity in monogenic neurodevelopmental disorders can arise from differential severity of variants underlying disease, but how distinct alleles drive variable disease presentation is not well understood. Here, we investigate missense mutations in DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A), a DNA methyltransferase associated with overgrowth, intellectual disability, and autism, to uncover molecular correlates of phenotypic heterogeneity. We generate a Dnmt3