Pilot study: Intranet communication among chronically ill hospitalized pediatric individuals

Hospitalization can be a very stressful experience, especially for children. With the use of technology, Intranet communication can be successful in obtaining interaction that these individuals lack to accomplish a positive adjustment to the hospital setting. The purpose of this exploratory, pilot project is to examine the use of networking chronically ill, hospitalized children with other hospitalized chronically ill children through Intranet communication.^ A target population of chronically ill hospitalized children, in at least Piaget's concrete operational stage, was asked to use the Intranet system to network with other chronically ill hospitalized children during their hospital stay, for one month or until discharge. The length of time of usage was recorded on a log sheet, and questionnaires were filled out at the end of the study.^ Statistical analysis was utilized to determine frequency of network usage, duration, demographics, and the impact on hospitalization. Results indicated that Intranet communication between chronically ill hospitalized children was utilized by the participants from 7-15 age groups; and had a positive impact on their hospitalization. ^

Characterization of ultra wideband antennas for personal communication devices using finite difference time domain technique

The current mobile networks don't offer sufficient data rates to support multimedia intensive applications in development for multifunctional mobile devices. Ultra wideband (UWB) wireless technology is being considered as the solution to overcome data rate bottlenecks in the current mobile networks. UWB is able to achieve such high data transmission rates because it transmits data over a very large chunk of the frequency spectrum. As currently approved by the U.S. Federal Communication Commission it utilizes 7.5 GHz of spectrum between 3.1 GHz and 10.6 GHz. ^ Successful transmission and reception of information data using UWB wireless technology in mobile devices, requires an antenna that has linear phase, low dispersion and a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) ≤ 2 throughout the entire frequency band. Compatibility with an integrated circuit requires an unobtrusive and electrically small design. The previous techniques that have been used to optimize the performance of UWB wireless systems, involve proper design of source pulses for optimal UWB performance. The goal of this work is directed towards the designing of antennas for personal communication devices, with optimal UWB bandwidth performance. Several techniques are proposed for optimal UWB bandwidth performance of the UWB antenna designs in this Ph.D. dissertation. ^ This Ph.D. dissertation presents novel UWB antenna designs for personal communication devices that have been characterized and optimized using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) technique. The antenna designs reported in this research are physically compact, planar for low profile use, with sufficient impedance bandwidth (>20%), antenna input impedance of 50-Ω, and an omni-directional (±1.5 dB) radiation pattern in the operating bandwidth. ^

Traffic congestion control in communication networks

Next generation networks are characterized by ever increasing complexity, intelligence, heterogeneous technologies and increasing user expectations. Telecommunication networks in particular have become truly global, consisting of a variety of national and regional networks, both wired and wireless. Consequently, the management of telecommunication networks is becoming increasingly complex. In addition, network security and reliability requirements require additional overheads which increase the size of the data records. This in turn causes acute network traffic congestions. There is no single network management methodology to control the various requirements of today's networks, and provides a good level of Quality of Service (QoS), and network security. Therefore, an integrated approach is needed in which a combination of methodologies can provide solutions and answers to network events (which cause severe congestions and compromise the quality of service and security). The proposed solution focused on a systematic approach to design a network management system based upon the recent advances in the mobile agent technologies. This solution has provided a new traffic management system for telecommunication networks that is capable of (1) reducing the network traffic load (thus reducing traffic congestion), (2) overcoming existing network latency, (3) adapting dynamically to the traffic load of the system, (4) operating in heterogeneous environments with improved security, and (5) having robust and fault tolerance behavior. This solution has solved several key challenges in the development of network management for telecommunication networks using mobile agents. We have designed several types of agents, whose interactions will allow performing some complex management actions, and integrating them. Our solution is decentralized to eliminate excessive bandwidth usage and at the same time has extended the capabilities of the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). Our solution is fully compatible with the existing standards.

Neuroendocrine control of a dynamic communication signal

Multiple physiological systems regulate the electric communication signal of the weakly electric gymnotiform fish, Brachyhypopomus pinnicaudatus. Fish were injected with neuroendocrine probes which identified pharmacologically relevant serotonin (5-HT) receptors similar to the mammalian 5-HT1AR and 5-HT2AR. Peptide hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal/interrenal axis also augment the electric waveform. These results indicate that the central serotonergic system interacts with the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal system to regulate communication signals in this species. The same neuroendocrine probes were tested in females before and after introducing androgens to examine the relationship between sex steroid hormones, the serotonergic system, melanocortin peptides, and EOD modulations. Androgens caused an increase in female B. pinnicaudatus responsiveness to other pharmacological challenges, particularly to the melanocortin peptide adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). A forced social challenge paradigm was administered to determine if androgens are responsible for controlling the signal modulations these fish exhibit when they encounter conspecifics. Males and females responded similarly to this social challenge construct, however introducing androgens caused implanted females to produce more exaggerated responses. These results confirm that androgens enhance an individual's capacity to produce an exaggerated response to challenge, however another unidentified factor appears to regulate sex-specific behaviors in this species. These results suggest that the rapid electric waveform modulations B. pinnicaudatus produces in response to conspecifics are situation-specific and controlled by activation of different serotonin receptor types and the subsequent effect on release of pituitary hormones.

An approach for design and analysis of User-centric Communication Middleware

Today, the development of domain-specific communication applications is both time-consuming and error-prone because the low-level communication services provided by the existing systems and networks are primitive and often heterogeneous. Multimedia communication applications are typically built on top of low-level network abstractions such as TCP/UDP socket, SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) APIs. The User-centric Communication Middleware (UCM) is proposed to encapsulate the networking complexity and heterogeneity of basic multimedia and multi-party communication for upper-layer communication applications. And UCM provides a unified user-centric communication service to diverse communication applications ranging from a simple phone call and video conferencing to specialized communication applications like disaster management and telemedicine. It makes it easier to the development of domain-specific communication applications. The UCM abstraction and API is proposed to achieve these goals. The dissertation also tries to integrate the formal method into UCM development process. The formal model is created for UCM using SAM methodology. Some design errors are found during model creation because the formal method forces to give the precise description of UCM. By using the SAM tool, formal UCM model is translated to Promela formula model. In the dissertation, some system properties are defined as temporal logic formulas. These temporal logic formulas are manually translated to promela formulas which are individually integrated with promela formula model of UCM and verified using SPIN tool. Formal analysis used here helps verify the system properties (for example multiparty multimedia protocol) and dig out the bugs of systems.

Modeling communication services for rapid realization

The availability and pervasiveness of new communication services, such as mobile networks and multimedia communication over digital networks, has resulted in strong demands for approaches to modeling and realizing customized communication systems. The stovepipe approach used to develop today's communication applications is no longer effective because it results in a lengthy and expensive development cycle. To address this need, the Communication Virtual Machine (CVM) technology has been developed by researchers at Florida International University. The CVM technology includes the Communication Modeling Language (CML) and the platform, CVM, to model and rapidly realize communication models. ^ In this dissertation, we investigate the basic communication primitives needed to capture and specify an end-user's requirements for communication-intensive applications, and how these specifications can be automatically realized. To identify the basic communication primitives, we perform a feature analysis on a set of communication-intensive scenarios from the healthcare domain. Based on the feature analysis, we define a new version of CML that includes the meta-model definition (abstract syntax and static semantics) and a partial behavior model (operational semantics). To validate our CML definition, we present a case study that shows how one of the scenarios from the healthcare domain is modeled and automatically realized. ^

Abstractions to support dynamic adaptation of communication frameworks for user-centric communication

The convergence of data, audio and video on IP networks is changing the way individuals, groups and organizations communicate. This diversity of communication media presents opportunities for creating synergistic collaborative communications. This form of collaborative communication is however not without its challenges. The increasing number of communication service providers coupled with a combinatorial mix of offered services, varying Quality-of-Service and oscillating pricing of services increases the complexity for the user to manage and maintain ‘always best’ priced or performance services. Consumers have to manually manage and adapt their communication in line with differences in services across devices, networks and media while ensuring that the usage remain consistent with their intended goals. This dissertation proposes a novel user-centric approach to address this problem. The proposed approach aims to reduce the aforementioned complexity to the user by (1) providing high-level abstractions and a policy based methodology for automated selection of the communication services guided by high-level user policies and (2) providing services through the seamless integration of multiple communication service providers and providing an extensible framework to support the integration of multiple communication service providers. The approach was implemented in the Communication Virtual Machine (CVM), a model-driven technology for realizing communication applications. The CVM includes the Network Communication Broker, the layer responsible for providing a network-independent API to the upper layers of CVM. The initial prototype for the NCB supported only a single communication framework which limited the number, quality and types of services available. Experimental evaluation of the approach show the additional overhead of the approach is minimal compared to the individual communication services frameworks. Additionally the automated approach proposed out performed the individual communication services frameworks for cross framework switching.

A domain specific modeling approach for coordinating user-centric communication services

Rapid advances in electronic communication devices and technologies have resulted in a shift in the way communication applications are being developed. These new development strategies provide abstract views of the underlying communication technologies and lead to the so-called user-centric communication applications. One user-centric communication (UCC) initiative is the Communication Virtual Machine (CVM) technology, which uses the Communication Modeling Language (CML) for modeling communication services and the CVM for realizing these services. In communication-intensive domains such as telemedicine and disaster management, there is an increasing need for user-centric communication applications that are domain-specific and that support the dynamic coordination of communication services commonly found in collaborative communication scenarios. However, UCC approaches like the CVM offer little support for the dynamic coordination of communication services resulting from inherent dependencies between individual steps of a collaboration task. Users either have to manually coordinate communication services, or reply on a process modeling technique to build customized solutions for services in a specific domain that are usually costly, rigidly defined and technology specific. ^ This dissertation proposes a domain-specific modeling approach to address this problem by extending the CVM technology with communication-specific abstractions of workflow concepts commonly found in business processes. The extension involves (1) the definition of the Workflow Communication Modeling Language (WF-CML), a superset of CML, and (2) the extension of the functionality of CVM to process communication-specific workflows. The definition of WF-CML includes the meta-model and the dynamic semantics for control constructs and concurrency. We also extended the CVM prototype to handle the modeling and realization of WF-CML models. A comparative study of the proposed approach with other workflow environments validates the claimed benefits of WF-CML and CVM.^

Endocrine regulation of dynamic communication signals in gymnotiform fish

Communication signals are shaped by the opposing selection pressures imposed by predators and mates. A dynamic signal might serve as an adaptive compromise between an inconspicuous signal that evades predators and an extravagant signal preferred by females. Such a signal has been described in the gymnotiform electric fish, Brachyhypopomus gauderio, which produces a sexually dimorphic electric organ discharge (EOD). The EOD varies on a circadian rhythm and in response to social cues. This signal plasticity is mediated by the slow action of androgens and rapid action of melanocortins. My dissertation research tested the hypotheses that (1) signal plasticity is related to sociality levels in gymnotiform species, and (2) differences in signal plasticity are regulated by differential sensitivity to androgen and melanocortin hormones. To assess the breadth of dynamic signaling within the order Gymnotiformes, I sampled 13 species from the five gymnotiform families. I recorded EODs to observe spontaneous signal oscillations after which I injected melanocortin hormones, saline control, or presented the fish with a conspecific. I showed that through the co-option of the ancient melanocortin pathway, gymnotiforms dynamically regulate EOD amplitude, spectral frequency, both, or neither. To investigate whether observed EOD plasticities are related to species-specific sociality I tested four species; two territorial, highly aggressive species, Gymnotus carapo and Apteronotus leptorhynchus, a highly gregarious species, Eigenmannia cf. virescens , and an intermediate short-lived species with a fluid social system, Brachyhypopomus gauderio. I examined the relationship between the androgens testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone, the melanocortin α-MSH, and their roles in regulating EOD waveform. I implanted all fish with androgen and blank silicone implants, and injected with α-MSH before and at the peak of implant effect. I found that waveforms of the most territorial and aggressive species were insensitive to hormone treatments; maintaining a static, stereotyped signal that preserves encoding of individual identity. Species with a fluid social system were most responsive to hormone treatments, exhibiting signals that reflect immediate condition and reproductive state. In conclusion, variation in gymnotiform signal plasticity is hormonally regulated and seems to reflect species-specific sociality.

Theoretical investigations of intercellular communication in the microcirculation: Conducted responses, myoendothelial projections and endothelium derived hyperpolarizing factor

The contractile state of microcirculatory vessels is a major determinant of the blood pressure of the whole systemic circulation. Continuous bi-directional communication exists between the endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) that regulates calcium (Ca2+) dynamics in these cells. This study presents theoretical approaches to understand some of the important and currently unresolved microcirculatory phenomena. ^ Agonist induced events at local sites have been shown to spread long distances in the microcirculation. We have developed a multicellular computational model by integrating detailed single EC and SMC models with gap junction and nitric oxide (NO) coupling to understand the mechanisms behind this effect. Simulations suggest that spreading vasodilation mainly occurs through Ca 2+ independent passive conduction of hyperpolarization in RMAs. Model predicts a superior role for intercellular diffusion of inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate (IP3) than Ca2+ in modulating the spreading response. ^ Endothelial derived signals are initiated even during vasoconstriction of stimulated SMCs by the movement of Ca2+ and/or IP3 into the EC which provide hyperpolarizing feedback to SMCs to counter the ongoing constriction. Myoendothelial projections (MPs) present in the ECs have been recently proposed to play a role in myoendothelial feedback. We have developed two models using compartmental and 2D finite element methods to examine the role of these MPs by adding a sub compartment in the EC to simulate MP with localization of intermediate conductance calcium activated potassium channels (IKCa) and IP3 receptors (IP 3R). Both models predicted IP3 mediated high Ca2+ gradients in the MP after SMC stimulation with limited global spread. This Ca 2+ transient generated a hyperpolarizing feedback of ∼ 2–3mV. ^ Endothelium derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) is the dominant form of endothelial control of SMC constriction in the microcirculation. A number of factors have been proposed for the role of EDHF but no single pathway is agreed upon. We have examined the potential of myoendothelial gap junctions (MEGJs) and potassium (K+) accumulation as EDHF using two models (compartmental and 2D finite element). An extra compartment is added in SMC to simulate micro domains (MD) which have NaKα2 isoform sodium potassium pumps. Simulations predict that MEGJ coupling is much stronger in producing EDHF than alone K+ accumulation. On the contrary, K+ accumulation can alter other important parameters (EC V m, IKCa current) and inhibit its own release as well as EDHF conduction via MEGJs. The models developed in this study are essential building blocks for future models and provide important insights to the current understanding of myoendothelial feedback and EDHF.^

A Model of Culturally-Diverse Patterns of Communication for Meaningful Learning

Teachers who address culturally-diverse classrooms using their own cultural ‘communication modes’ promote ‘communication dysfunctions’ which diminish the classrooms’ production of meaningful learning. A proposed interaction model of culturally-diverse patterns of communication supplies ‘cultural congruency’ at all levels of communication between teachers and students. The Model proposes that teachers address the culturally-diverse classrooms in as many diverse communication modes as culturally-diverse are the students. The Model was created as a response to the unsatisfactory Meaningful Learning efficiency of a traditional one-cultured-teacher, teaching to a Multicultural classroom.

The Effect of Using Portfolios on Student-Parent and Parent-Teacher Communication

This action research project studied how portfolios enhance the communication between students, parents, and the teacher. While using portfolios in my class, students experienced more dialogue with their parents regarding their effort, the topics being taught, and explanations requiring communication with mathematical reasoning.

Hidden Communication Deficits in Children with Autism and Early Behavioral Interventions

Taking a behavioral systems approach to autism, early hidden communicative deficits are introduced as precursors of autistic development. This paper argues that early identification of communication (language and cognition) impairments followed by intensive behavioral interventions, as early as infancy, may have the most preventive effect on the development of autism.

The Use of Picture Exchange Communication System to Reduce Screaming Behavior in a Child with Severe Autism

Using a multiple baseline across subject areas design, the effect of a package intervention consisting of the Picture Exchange Communication System and differential reinforcement of alternative behavior to decrease screaming behavior of a child with autism was examined. Results showed that the intervention decreased the screaming behavior of the participant.