Data and model considerations for estimating time-varying functional connectivity in fMRI

Functional connectivity (FC) in the brain has been shown to exhibit subtle but reliable modulations within a session. One way of estimating time-varying FC is by using state-based models that describe fMRI time series as temporal sequences of states, each with an associated, characteristic pattern of FC. However, the estimation of these models from data sometimes fails to capture changes in a meaningful way, such that the model estimation assigns entire sessions (or the largest part of them) to a single state, therefore failing to capture within-session state modulations effectively; we refer to this phenomenon as the model becoming static, or model stasis. Here, we aim to quantify how the nature of the data and the choice of model parameters affect the model's ability to detect temporal changes in FC using both simulated fMRI time courses and resting state fMRI data. We show that large between-subject FC differences can overwhelm subtler within-session modulations, causing the model to become static. Further, the choice of parcellation can also affect the model's ability to detect temporal changes. We finally show that the model often becomes static when the number of free parameters that need to be estimated is high and the number of observations available for this estimation is low in comparison. Based on these findings, we derive a set of practical recommendations for time-varying FC studies, in terms of preprocessing, parcellation and complexity of the model.

Multiparty Call Control at the Network Edge

Network programmability is a key feature of fifth generation (5G) system which, in combination with cloud-based services, can support many use cases, including mission critical and healthcare communications. Programmability enables flexibility in customization of service connectivity. Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) services and applications are enablers for network programmability. In this paper, MEC capabilities for programmability of multiparty multimedia call control at the network edge are studied. Multiparty video calls are one of the key applications of 5G, and are efficient way to exchange ideas, knowledge, expertise, information, and so on. The paper presents an approach to design MEC Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) which enable third party applications to create multiparty multimedia sessions and dynamically manage session participations. The API functionality is described by required information and message flows. The paper specifies the proposed MEC API with data model. Feasibility study includes modelling and formal validation of multiparty session state models supported by the network and mobile edge application. The latency injected by the API is evaluated by emulation.

LiveWell RERC State of the Science Conference Report on ICT Access to Support Community Living, Health and Function for People with Disabilities

This article summarizes the proceedings of the three session State of the Science (SOS) Conference that was conducted by the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Community Living, Health and Function (LiveWell RERC) in June 2019 in Toronto, Canada. RERCs customarily convene an SOS conference toward the end of their five-year funding cycle in order to assess the current state and identify potential future research, development, and knowledge translation efforts needed to advance their field. The first two sessions focused on the current and future state of information and communication technology (ICT) for mobile health (mHealth) and mobile rehabilitation (mRehab). The third session was a wide-ranging discussion of pressing needs for future research and development in the field. Several “big ideas” resulted from the discussion among participants in the SOS Conference that should inform the structure and operation of future efforts, including: (1) identifying active ingredients of interventions, (2) incorporating effective behavior-change techniques into all interventions, (3) including measures of social determinants of health in evaluation studies, (4) incorporating user-customizable features into technology solutions, and (5) ensuring “discoverability” of research and development outputs by stakeholders via structured and continuous outreach, education and training. Substantive areas of work include gaming and esports, the gamification of interventions for health and fitness, the cultivation of community supports, and continuous outreach and education wherever a person with a disability may live.

Design and Realization of the Component of Single Sign-On Based on Web Services and Session Verification

Single Sign-on is one of the most popular solutions for integrating enterprise business. In this paper, a component of SSO based on Web Services technology and Session state authentication mechanisms is designed and implemented, and this component is used in the ceramic industry integration services platform to address the problem of repeatedly login when various company users use multiple applications in the ceramic industry integration services platform.

The Page Flow Implements Business Logic in Web Applications

This paper discusses the application of the technology of NetUI flow page in the business logic of Web applications. The page flow uses declarative programming method, and has session state and modular design, which can be nested to use and effectively separate the logical code in the Web applications, to make the application structure clear, easy to be read and modified. The paper references a business logic of the users login authentication to illustrate the implementation process of the entire page flow.