Generalized Kruithof approach for traffic matrix estimation

[Abstract]: In this paper, the traffic matrix estimation problem is formulated as an nonlinear optimization problem based on the generalized Kruithof approach which uses the Kullback distance to measure the probabilistic distance between two traffic matrices. In addition, an algorithm using the affine scaling method is provided to solve the constraint optimization problem

The Effect of an Integrated Library Computer System on Job Characteristics in Public Libraries

This study investigated the effects of computerization with an integrated library system (ILS) on job characteristics in public libraries. Two different but complementary research design components were used. One component consisted of a case study of the Norfolk (Virginia) Public Library, where an ILS was implemented between 1988 and 1995. The case study relied on data from interviews, archival sources, and questionnaires. The other component was a mail survey of public library workers across Virginia. Case study interview data was analyzed by coding. Time series analysis was used to examine trends in budget and staffing. Pattern matching logic was used to identify a casual perspective. A chronological account of the ILS implementation project was developed from documentary and interview data. Questionnaire data was used to explore similarities and differences between the case study and the mail survey. Library jobs were found to be affected by computerization with and ILS. An emergent casual perspective was identified as the best explanatory approach to the data. Computerization interacted with concurrent downsizing of staff. The evidence supports a finding that the cost of computerizing resulted in staff reductions. Mail survey data was analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Five of 12 null hypotheses were rejected. Principal components analysis identified two separate components of an ILS: public service computing and backroom computing. The multiple regression analyses indicated that different types of job characteristics, as identified by the multidisciplinary job characteristics theory, were affected by different features of computerization. The most marked effect was that larger proportions of work time spent on the ILS were associated with more mechanistic job characteristics; this effect was moderated by job level. Perceptual/motor job characteristics were reduced by the presence of public service computing; this effect was moderated by professional status. Effects on motivational job characteristics were statistically significant but were so small that they lack practical significance

A Transport Protocol for Future Wireless Internets

The traditional assumptions made by TCP about the operation of wired networks are often found to be invalid for wireless networks. Standard TCP semantics such as end-to-end flow control, congestion control mechanisms and error recovery provide reliability in wired networks. However, wireless communication systems have different characteristics when compared to wired networks that include higher bit error rates, higher latency, limited bandwidth, multipath fading of the signals and handoff. In this paper, we propose an enhancement to TCP that we shall call ETCP, which improves upon conventional TCP when it is applied to the wireless environment. Our simulation results show significant improvements to TCP performance with respect to packet loss detection

Newer treatments for fibromyalgia syndrome

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a common chronic pain disorder of unknown etiology. The lack of understanding of the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia has made this condition frustrating for patients and clinicians alike. The most common symptoms of this disorder are chronic widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, difficulty with memory, and morning stiffness. Emerging evidence points towards augmented pain processing within the central nervous system (CNS) as having a primary role in the pathophysiology of this disorder. Currently the two drugs that are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the management of fibromyalgia are pregabalin and duloxetine. Newer data suggests that milnacipran, a dual norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor, may be promising for the treatment of fibromyalgia. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of milnacipran in 125 fibromyalgia patients showed significant improvements relative to placebo. Milnacipran given either once or twice daily at doses up to 200 mg/day was generally well tolerated and yielded significant improvements relative to placebo on measures of pain, patient’s global impression of change in their disease state, physical function, and fatigue. Future studies are needed to validate the efficacy of milnacipran in fibromyalgia

Duration of antibody response following vaccination against feline immunodeficiency virus

Objectives: Recently, two point-of-care (PoC) feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antibody test kits (Witness and Anigen Rapid) were reported as being able to differentiate FIV-vaccinated from FIV-infected cats at a single time point, irrespective of the gap between testing and last vaccination (0–7 years). The aim of the current study was to investigate systematically anti-FIV antibody production over time in response to the recommended primary FIV vaccination series. Methods: First, residual plasma from the original study was tested using a laboratory-based ELISA to determine whether negative results with PoC testing were due to reduced as opposed to absent antibodies to gp40. Second, a prospective study was performed using immunologically naive client-owned kittens and cats given a primary FIV vaccination series using a commercially available inactivated whole cell/inactivated whole virus vaccine (Fel-O-Vax FIV, three subcutaneous injections at 4 week intervals) and tested systematically (up to 11 times) over 6 months, using four commercially available PoC FIV antibody kits (SNAP FIV/FeLV Combo [detects antibodies to p15/p24], Witness FeLV/FIV [gp40], Anigen Rapid FIV/FeLV [p24/gp40] and VetScan FeLV/FIV Rapid [p24]). Results: The laboratory-based ELISA showed cats from the original study vaccinated within the previous 0–15 months had detectable levels of antibodies to gp40, despite testing negative with two kits that use gp40 as a capture antigen (Witness and Anigen Rapid kits). The prospective study showed that antibody testing with SNAP Combo and VetScan Rapid was positive in all cats 2 weeks after the second primary FIV vaccination, and remained positive for the duration of the study (12/12 and 10/12 cats positive, respectively). Antibody testing with Witness and Anigen Rapid was also positive in a high proportion of cats 2 weeks after the second primary FIV vaccination (8/12 and 7/12, respectively), but antibody levels declined below the level of detection in most cats (10/12) by 1 month after the third (final) primary FIV vaccination. All cats tested negative using Witness and Anigen Rapid 6 months after the third primary FIV vaccination. Conclusions and relevance: This study has shown that a primary course of FIV vaccination does not interfere with FIV antibody testing in cats using Witness and Anigen Rapid, provided primary vaccination has not occurred within the previous 6 months. Consequently, Witness and Anigen Rapid antibody test kits can be used reliably to determine FIV infection status at the time of annual booster FIV vaccination to help detect ‘vaccine breakthroughs’ and in cats that have not received a primary course of FIV vaccination within the preceding 6 months. The duration of antibody response following annual booster FIV vaccination and the resulting effect on antibody testing using PoC kits needs to be determined by further research. The mechanism(s) for the variation in FIV antibody test kit performance remains unclear