Parallelized Particle and Gaussian Sum Particle Filters for Large Scale Freeway Traffic Systems

Large scale traffic systems require techniques able to: 1) deal with high amounts of data and heterogenous data coming from different types of sensors, 2) provide robustness in the presence of sparse sensor data, 3) incorporate different models that can deal with various traffic regimes, 4) cope with multimodal conditional probability density functions for the states. Often centralized architectures face challenges due to high communication demands. This paper develops new estimation techniques able to cope with these problems of large traffic network systems. These are Parallelized Particle Filters (PPFs) and a Parallelized Gaussian Sum Particle Filter (PGSPF) that are suitable for on-line traffic management. We show how complex probability density functions of the high dimensional trafc state can be decomposed into functions with simpler forms and the whole estimation problem solved in an efcient way. The proposed approach is general, with limited interactions which reduces the computational time and provides high estimation accuracy. The efciency of the PPFs and PGSPFs is evaluated in terms of accuracy, complexity and communication demands and compared with the case where all processing is centralized

Raising the bar for classification and outcome assessment for clinical studies in axial spondyloarthritis

The first section of this thesis aims to provide an international perspective on the characterisation of patients with axial spondyloarthritis. Through different aspects of the classification criteria, we review the importance of global applicability of these criteria. As classification criteria ensure the same patients are selected for participation in clinical trials worldwide, global applicability would allow for direct comparisons between studies executed in different geographical regions. Likewise, standardised assessment and reporting of results from clinical trials allows for direct comparisons between studies investigating different treatments, or identical treatments in populations from a different ethnicity or background, which is debated in the second part of this thesis. Herein, we describe the process of the development of the core set for axial spondyloarthritis, specifically by updating the domains of the ASAS-OMERACT core set for ankylosing spondylitis. In the final part of this thesis, we discuss health-related quality of life and work and activity impairments in patients with chronic back pain suspected of axial spondyloarthritis. UCB PharmaLUMC / Geneeskund

Test-retest reliability of outcome measures: data from three trials in radiographic and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis

Objectives Aim of this study was to assess test-retest reliability of candidate instruments for the mandatory domains of the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis international Society (ASAS)-Outcome Measures in Rheumatology core set for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Methods Screening and baseline data from COAST-V, COAST-X and RAPID-axSpA was used to evaluate test-retest reliability of each candidate instrument for the mandatory domains (disease activity, pain, morning stiffness, fatigue, physical function, overall functioning and health). A maximum time interval of 28 days between both visits was used for inclusion in this study. Test-retest reliability was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Bland and Altman plots provided mean difference and 95% limits of agreement, which were used to calculate the smallest detectable change (SDC). Data were analysed for radiographic and non-radiographic axSpA separately. Results Good reliability was found for Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ICC 0.79, SDC 0.6), C reactive protein (ICC 0.72-0.79, SDC 12.3-17.0), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (ICC 0.87, SDC 1.1) and 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (ICC Physical Component Summary 0.81, SDC 4.7, Mental Component Summary 0.80, SDC 7.3). Moderate reliability was found for Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (ICC 0.72, SDC 1.1), patient global assessment (ICC 0.58, SDC 1.5), total back pain (ICC 0.64, SDC 1.3), back pain at night (ICC 0.67, SDC 1.3), morning stiffness (ICC 0.52-0.63, SDC 1.5-2.2), fatigue (ICC 0.65, SDC 1.3) and ASAS-Health Index (ICC 0.74, SDC 2.5). Reliability and SDC for the radiographic and non-radiographic axSpA subgroups were similar. Conclusion Overall reliability was good, and comparable levels of reliability were found for patients with radiographic and non-radiographic axSpA, even though most instruments were developed for radiographic axSpA. Composite measures showed higher reliability than single-item measures in assessing disease activity in patients with axSpA.Pathophysiology and treatment of rheumatic disease

Transmission loss patterns from acoustic harassment and deterrent devices do not always follow geometrical spreading predictions

Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2009. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of John Wiley & Sons for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Marine Mammal Science 25 (2009): 53-67, doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2008.00243.x.Acoustic harassment and deterrent devices have become increasingly popular mitigation tools for negotiating the impacts of marine mammals on fisheries. The rationale for their variable effectiveness remains unexplained but high variability in the surrounding acoustic field may be relevant. In the present study, the sound fields of one acoustic harassment device and three acoustic deterrent devices were measured at three study sites along the Scandinavian coast. Superimposed onto an overall trend of decreasing sound exposure levels with increasing range were large local variations in sound level for all sources in each of the environments. This variability was likely caused by source directionality, inter-ping source level variation and multi-path interference. Rapid and unpredictable variations in the sound level as a function of range deviated from expectations derived from spherical and cylindrical spreading models and conflicted with the classic concept of concentric zones of increasing disturbance with decreasing range. Under such conditions, animals may encounter difficulties when trying to determine the direction to and location of a sound source, which may complicate or jeopardize avoidance responses.The project was funded by the Swedish Fishermen Association, the Swedish Board of Fisheries, Aage V. Jensen Foundations, Danish Forest and Nature Agency, The Nordic Research Council and the Carlsberg Foundation. Additional logistical support was furnished by the Oticon Foundation and Reson A/S. A.D. Shapiro received financial support from the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship and the WHOI Academic Programs Office. 35

Genetic background may contribute to the latitude-dependent prevalence of dermatomyositis and anti-TIF1-γ autoantibodies in adult patients with myositis

Background: The prevalence of dermatomyositis (DM) versus DM and polymyositis (PM) combined has been shown to be negatively associated with latitude. This observation has been attributed to increasing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light towards the equator. In this study, we investigated whether differing genetic background in populations could contribute to this distribution of DM. Methods: Case data derived from the MYOGEN (Myositis Genetics Consortium) Immunochip study (n = 1769) were used to model the association of DM prevalence and DM-specific autoantibodies with latitude. Control data (n = 9911) were used to model the relationship of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) associated with DM autoantibodies and DM or PM single-nucleotide polymorphisms (suggestive significance in the Immunochip project, P < 2.25 x 10(-5)) in healthy control subjects with latitude. All variables were analysed against latitude using ordered logistic regression, adjusted for sex. Results: The prevalence of DM, as a proportion of DM and PM combined, and the presence of anti-transcription intermediary factor 1 (anti-TIF1-gamma) autoantibodies were both significantly negatively associated with latitude (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.95-0.98, P < 0.001; and OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.99, P = 0.004, respectively). HLA alleles significantly associated with anti-Mi-2 and anti-TIF1-gamma autoantibodies also were strongly negatively associated with latitude (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96-0.98, P < 0.001 and OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.99, P < 0.001, respectively). The frequency of five PM- or DM-associated SNPs showed a significant association with latitude (P < 0.05), and the direction of four of these associations was consistent with the latitude associations of the clinical phenotypes. Conclusions: These results lend some support to the hypothesis that genetic background, in addition to UV exposure, may contribute to the distribution of DM

The filtering equations revisited

The problem of nonlinear filtering has engendered a surprising number of mathematical techniques for its treatment. A notable example is the change-of--probability-measure method originally introduced by Kallianpur and Striebel to derive the filtering equations and the Bayes-like formula that bears their names. More recent work, however, has generally preferred other methods. In this paper, we reconsider the change-of-measure approach to the derivation of the filtering equations and show that many of the technical conditions present in previous work can be relaxed. The filtering equations are established for general Markov signal processes that can be described by a martingale-problem formulation. Two specific applications are treated

Comprehension of pictograms for pain quality and pain affect in adults with Down syndrome

Background Adults with Down syndrome (DS) are at risk for age-related painful physical conditions, but also for under-reporting pain. Pictograms may facilitate self-report of pain, because they seem suitable for the global visual processing in DS and for iconic representation of abstract concepts. Method Participants (N = 39, M age = 41.2) assigned pain qualities to pictograms, rated pain affect levels in facial scales (pictograms vs. drawn faces), and performed cognitive tests. Results Recognition of all intended pain qualities was above chance level. Pain affect levels of both facial scales were ordered equally well. Both facial scales were preferred equally we

Voorstel bouwstenen nieuwe weidevogelpakketten agrarisch natuurbeheer in een notendop : wat regelen we in Nederland, wat in Brussel?

In opdracht van directie Kennis van het ministerie van LNV is een voorstel ontwikkeld voor bouwstenen voor nieuwe pakketten weidevogelbeheer. De doelstellingen worden per gebiedsplan vastgesteld. De verantwoordelijkheid hiervoor ligt bij provincies en Rijk, die daarvoor desgewenst een gebiedscommissie in het leven kunnen roepen. Het minimum dat altijd (in alle gebiedsplannen) geldt is: 35 bp /100 ha, bestaande uit één of meer van de volgende soorten: Grutto, Tureluur, Watersnip, Kemphaan, Slobeend, Zomertaling, Veldleeuwerik, Wulp, Kluut, Krakeend, Kuifeend, Wintertaling, Graspieper, Gele kwikstaart, Kievit, Scholekster. Per gebied kan deze doelstelling nader worden gefocust op één of meerdere van bovengenoemde soorten en/of naar boven worden bijgestel