University of Oklahoma

About: University of Oklahoma is a education organization based out in Norman, Oklahoma, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Radar. The organization has 25269 authors who have published 52609 publications receiving 1821706 citations. The organization is also known as: OU & Oklahoma University.

Physical activity is related to quality of life in older adults

Abstract: Physical activity is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQL) in clinical populations, but less is known whether this relationship exists in older men and women who are healthy. Thus, this study determined if physical activity was related to HRQL in apparently healthy, older subjects. Measures were obtained from 112 male and female volunteers (70 ± 8 years, mean ± SD) recruited from media advertisements and flyers around the Norman, Oklahoma area. Data was collected using a medical history questionnaire, HRQL from the Medical Outcomes Survey short form-36 questionnaire, and physical activity level from the Johnson Space Center physical activity scale. Subjects were separated into either a higher physically active group (n = 62) or a lower physically active group (n = 50) according to the physical activity scale. The HRQL scores in all eight domains were significantly higher (p 0.05) between the two groups. Healthy older adults who regularly participated in physical activity of at least moderate intensity for more than one hour per week had higher HRQL measures in both physical and mental domains than those who were less physically active. Therefore, incorporating more physical activity into the lifestyles of sedentary or slightly active older individuals may improve their HRQL.

Venture Capitalist Certification in Initial Public Offerings

Abstract: With more businesses going public, the certification of their value and offering price is a necessity, acting as a means of attracting investors and of enhancing further financial success. While auditors and underwriters typically certify the value of an initial public offering (IPO), venture capitalists, as investors in a firm, also have knowledge of the firm's value, leading researchers to explore the potential role of venture capitalists in certifying an IPO's offering price. The process of venture capital (VC) firm certification is described. Utilizing Investment Dealer's Digest Corporate Database (IDD), a representative sample of both VC backed and non-VC backed firms (320 each) is compiled, and matched for industry and offering size. The role of underwriters and auditors in certifying a firm's value is scrutinized, including their respective relationships with VC backed firms. The data regarding initial returns and offering expenses for IPOs are analyzed for both VC backed and non-VC backed firms. Venture capitalists are found to play a significant role in firm certification, including an implication of firm quality due to their investment in the firm. The data suggest that VC backed firms, when compared to non-VC backed firms, tend to be younger, typically comprised of assets of greater median book value, and have attained a larger percentage of equity in the IPO's capital structure. Additionally, VC backing often results in the utilization of higher quality underwriters and auditors, while simultaneously experiencing a decrease in costs associated with underpricing and underwriting. Although a few venture capitalists may cash-out of their investment following IPO, the majority of venture capitalists typically maintain their holdings in firms following the initial public offering. (AKP)

Diagnostic criteria for hematopoietic stem cell transplant-associated microangiopathy : results of a consensus process by an International Working Group

Abstract: Background and Objectives There are no widely accepted criteria for the definition of hematopoietic stem cell transplant-associated microangiopathy (TAM). An International Working Group was formed to develop a consensus formulation of criteria for diagnosing clinically significant TAM.Design and Methods The participants proposed a list of candidate criteria, selected those considered necessary, and ranked those considered optional to identify a core set of criteria. Three obligatory criteria and four optional criteria that ranked highest formed a core set. In an appropriateness panel process, the participants scored the diagnosis of 16 patient profiles as appropriate or not appropriate for TAM. Using the experts’ ratings on the patient profiles as a gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of 24 candidate definitions of the disorder developed from the core set of criteria were evaluated. A nominal group technique was used to facilitate consensus formation. The definition of TAM with the highest score formed the final proposal.Results The Working Group proposes that the diagnosis of TAM requires fulfilment of all of the following criteria: (i) >4% schistocytes in blood; (ii) de novo, prolonged or progressive thrombocytopenia (platelet count

PMAC: an adaptive energy-efficient MAC protocol for wireless sensor networks

Abstract: We propose a novel adaptive MAC protocol for wireless sensor networks. In existing protocols such as SMAC, the sensor nodes are put to sleep periodically to save energy. As the duty cycle is fixed in such protocols, the network throughput can degrade under heavy traffic, while under light loads, unwanted energy consumption can occur. In the proposed pattern-MAC (PMAC) protocol, instead of having fixed sleep-wakeups, the sleep-wakeup schedules of the sensor nodes are adaptively determined. The schedules are decided based on a node's own traffic and that of its neighbors. Our analytical and experimental results show that in comparison to SMAC, PMAC achieves more power savings under light loads, and higher throughput under heavier traffic loads. Furthermore, unlike SMAC, only the sensor nodes involved in communication wake up frequently in PMAC and hence energy is conserved in other sensor nodes.