Short-term traffic speed forecasting based on data recorded at irregular intervals

As demand for proactive real-time transportation management systems has grown, major developments have been seen in short-time traffic forecasting methods. Recent studies have introduced time series theory, neural networks, genetic algorithms, etc., to short-time traffic forecasting to make forecasts more reliable, efficient and accurate. However, most of these methods can only deal with data recorded at regular time intervals, thereby restricting the range of data collection tools to loop detectors or other equipment that generate regular data. The study reported here represents an attempt to expand on several existing time series forecasting methods to accommodate data recorded at irregular time intervals, thus ensuring these methods can be used to obtain predicted traffic speeds through intermittent data sources such as the GPS. The study tested several methods using the GPS data from 480 Hong Kong taxis. The results show that the best performance is obtained using a neural network model with acceleration information predicted by ARIMA model. ©2010 IEEE.published_or_final_versionThe 13th International IEEE Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC), 19-22 September 2010. In Proceedings of the 13th IEEE ITSC, 2010, p. 1541-154

Short-term traffic speed forecasting based on data recorded at irregular intervals

Recent growth in demand for proactive real-time transportation management systems has led to major advances in short-time traffic forecasting methods. Recent studies have introduced time series theory, neural networks, and genetic algorithms to short-term traffic forecasting to make forecasts more reliable, efficient, and accurate. However, most of these methods can only deal with data recorded at regular time intervals, which restricts the range of data collection tools to presence-type detectors or other equipment that generates regular data. The study reported here is an attempt to extend several existing time series forecasting methods to accommodate data recorded at irregular time intervals, which would allow transportation management systems to obtain predicted traffic speeds from intermittent data sources such as Global Positioning System (GPS). To improve forecasting performance, acceleration information was introduced, and information from segments adjacent to the current forecasting segment was adopted. The study tested several methods using GPS data from 480 Hong Kong taxis. The results show that the best performance in terms of mean absolute relative error is obtained by using a neural network model that aggregates speed information and acceleration information from the current forecasting segment and adjacent segments.published_or_final_versio

A flicker-free electrolytic capacitor-less AC-DC LED driver

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Representation of temporal memory retrieval in the human precuneus

Shared neural ensembles link distinct memories encoded close in time, thus events encoded within close temporal distance (TD) are more likely to be co-recalled than events encoded across more distant TD: here we identified the multivoxel response pattern reflecting this effect in human parietal cortex

RXRα acts as a carrier for TR3 nuclear export in a 9-cis retinoic acid-dependent manner in gastric cancer cells

Retinoid X receptor (RXR) plays a crucial role in the cross talk between retinoid receptors and other hormone receptors including the orphan receptor TR3, forming different heterodimers that transduce diverse steroid/thyroid hormone signaling. Here we show that RXRalpha exhibits nucleocytoplasmic shuttling in MGC80-3 gastric cancer cells and that RXRalpha, shuttling is energy-dependent through a nuclear pore complex (NPC)mediated pathway for its import and an intact DNA binding domain-mediated pathway for its export. In the presence of its ligand 9-cis retinoic acid, RXRalpha was almost exclusively located in the cytoplasm. More importantly, we also show that RXRalpha. acts as a carrier to assist translocation of TR3, which plays an important role in apoptosis. Both RXRalpha and TR3 colocalized in the nucleus; however, upon stimulation by 9-cis retinoic acid they cotranslocated to the cytoplasm and then localized in the mitochondria. TR3 export depends on RXRalpha as in living cells GFP-TR3 alone did not result in export from the nucleus even in the presence of 9-cis retinoic acid, whereas GFP-TR3 cotransfected with RXRalpha was exported out of the nucleus in response to 9-cis retinoic acid. Moreover, specific reduction of RXRalpha levels caused by anti-sense RXRalpha abolished TR3 nuclear export. In contrast, specific knockdown of TR3 by antisense-TR3 or TR3-siRNA did not affect RXRalpha shuttling. These results indicate that RXRalpha is responsible for TR3 nucleocytoplasmic translocation, which is facilitated by the RXRalpha ligand 9-cis retinoic acid. In addition, mitochondrial TR3, but not RXRalpha was critical for apoptosis, as TR3 mutants that were distributed in the mitochondria induced apoptosis in the presence or absence of 9-cis retinoic acid. These data reveal a novel aspect of RXRalpha function, in which it acts as a carrier for nucleocytoplasmic translocation of orphan receptors

The design and construction of a movable image-based rendering system and its application to multiview conferencing

Image-based rendering (IBR) is an promising technology for rendering photo-realistic views of scenes from a collection of densely sampled images or videos. It provides a framework for developing revolutionary virtual reality and immersive viewing systems. While there has been considerable progress recently in the capturing, storage and transmission of image-based representations, most multiple camera systems are designed to be stationary and hence their ability to cope with moving objects and dynamic environment is somewhat limited. This paper studies the design and construction of a movable image-based rendering system based on a class of dynamic representations called plenoptic videos, its associated video processing algorithms and an application to multiview audio-visual conferencing. It is constructed by mounting a linear array of 8 video cameras on an electrically controllable wheel chair and its motion is controllable manually or remotely through wireless LAN by means of additional hardware circuitry. We also developed a real-time object tracking algorithm and utilize the motion information computed to adjust continuously the azimuth or rotation angle of the movable IBR system in order to cope with a given moving object in a large environment. Due to imperfection in tracking and mechanical vibration encountered in movable systems, the videos may appear very shaky and a new video stabilization technique is proposed to overcome this problem. The usefulness of the system is illustrated by means of a multiview conferencing application using a multiview TV display. Through this pilot study, we hope to disseminate useful experience for the design and construction of movable IBR systems with improved viewing freedom and ability to cope with moving object in a large environment.published_or_final_versio

Defective Gpsm2/G alpha(i3) signalling disrupts stereocilia development and growth cone actin dynamics in Chudley-McCullough syndrome

Mutations in GPSM2 cause Chudley-McCullough syndrome (CMCS), an autosomal recessive neurological disorder characterized by early-onset sensorineural deafness and brain anomalies. Here, we show that mutation of the mouse orthologue of GPSM2 affects actin-rich stereocilia elongation in auditory and vestibular hair cells, causing deafness and balance defects. The G-protein subunit Gαi3, a well-documented partner of Gpsm2, participates in the elongation process, and its absence also causes hearing deficits. We show that Gpsm2 defines an ∼200 nm nanodomain at the tips of stereocilia and this localization requires the presence of Gαi3, myosin 15 and whirlin. Using single-molecule tracking, we report that loss of Gpsm2 leads to decreased outgrowth and a disruption of actin dynamics in neuronal growth cones. Our results elucidate the aetiology of CMCS and highlight a new molecular role for Gpsm2/Gαi3 in the regulation of actin dynamics in epithelial and neuronal tissues

Multi-parallel qPCR provides increased sensitivity and diagnostic breadth for gastrointestinal parasites of humans: field-based inferences on the impact of mass deworming

BACKGROUND: Although chronic morbidity in humans from soil transmitted helminth (STH) infections can be reduced by anthelmintic treatment, inconsistent diagnostic tools make it difficult to reliably measure the impact of deworming programs and often miss light helminth infections. METHODS: Cryopreserved stool samples from 796 people (aged 2-81 years) in four villages in Bungoma County, western Kenya, were assessed using multi-parallel qPCR for 8 parasites and compared to point-of-contact assessments of the same stools by the 2-stool 2-slide Kato-Katz (KK) method. All subjects were treated with albendazole and all Ascaris lumbricoides expelled post-treatment were collected. Three months later, samples from 633 of these people were re-assessed by both qPCR and KK, re-treated with albendazole and the expelled worms collected. RESULTS: Baseline prevalence by qPCR (n = 796) was 17 % for A. lumbricoides, 18 % for Necator americanus, 41 % for Giardia lamblia and 15% for Entamoeba histolytica. The prevalence was <1% for Trichuris trichiura, Ancylostoma duodenale, Strongyloides stercoralis and Cryptosporidium parvum. The sensitivity of qPCR was 98% for A. lumbricoides and N. americanus, whereas KK sensitivity was 70% and 32%, respectively. Furthermore, qPCR detected infections with T. trichiura and S. stercoralis that were missed by KK, and infections with G. lamblia and E. histolytica that cannot be detected by KK. Infection intensities measured by qPCR and by KK were correlated for A. lumbricoides (r = 0.83, p < 0.0001) and N. americanus (r = 0.55, p < 0.0001). The number of A. lumbricoides worms expelled was correlated (p < 0.0001) with both the KK (r = 0.63) and qPCR intensity measurements (r = 0.60). CONCLUSIONS: KK may be an inadequate tool for stool-based surveillance in areas where hookworm or Strongyloides are common or where intensity of helminth infection is low after repeated rounds of chemotherapy. Because deworming programs need to distinguish between populations where parasitic infection is controlled and those where further treatment is required, multi-parallel qPCR (or similar high throughput molecular diagnostics) may provide new and important diagnostic information

Formyl Peptide Receptor as a Novel Therapeutic Target for Anxiety-Related Disorders

Formyl peptide receptors (FPR) belong to a family of sensors of the immune system that detect microbe-associated molecules and inform various cellular and sensorial mechanisms to the presence of pathogens in the host. Here we demonstrate that Fpr2/3-deficient mice show a distinct profile of behaviour characterised by reduced anxiety in the marble burying and light-dark box paradigms, increased exploratory behaviour in an open-field, together with superior performance on a novel object recognition test. Pharmacological blockade with a formyl peptide receptor antagonist, Boc2, in wild type mice reproduced most of the behavioural changes observed in the Fpr2/3(-/-) mice, including a significant improvement in novel object discrimination and reduced anxiety in a light/dark shuttle test. These effects were associated with reduced FPR signalling in the gut as shown by the significant reduction in the levels of p-p38. Collectively, these findings suggest that homeostatic FPR signalling exerts a modulatory effect on anxiety-like behaviours. These findings thus suggest that therapies targeting FPRs may be a novel approach to ameliorate behavioural abnormalities present in neuropsychiatric disorders at the cognitive-emotional interface

Search for Charged Higgs Bosons in e+e- Collisions at \sqrt{s} = 189 GeV

A search for pair-produced charged Higgs bosons is performed with the L3 detector at LEP using data collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 188.6 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 176.4 pb^-1. Higgs decays into a charm and a strange quark or into a tau lepton and its associated neutrino are considered. The observed events are consistent with the expectations from Standard Model background processes. A lower limit of 65.5 GeV on the charged Higgs mass is derived at 95 % confidence level, independent of the decay branching ratio Br(H^{+/-} -> tau nu)