813 research outputs found
Fuzzy cellular model for on-line traffic simulation
This paper introduces a fuzzy cellular model of road traffic that was
intended for on-line applications in traffic control. The presented model uses
fuzzy sets theory to deal with uncertainty of both input data and simulation
results. Vehicles are modelled individually, thus various classes of them can
be taken into consideration. In the proposed approach, all parameters of
vehicles are described by means of fuzzy numbers. The model was implemented in
a simulation of vehicles queue discharge process. Changes of the queue length
were analysed in this experiment and compared to the results of NaSch cellular
automata model.Comment: The original publication is available at http://www.springerlink.co
Enhanced Accessibility for People with Disabilities Living in Urban Areas
[Excerpt] People with disabilities constitute a significant proportion of the poor in developing countries. If internationally agreed targets on reducing poverty are to be reached, it is critical that specific measures be taken to reduce the societal discrimination and isolation that people with disabilities continue to face. Transport is an important enabler of strategies to fight poverty through enhancing access to education, employment, and social services.
This project aims to further the understanding of the mobility and access issues experienced by people with disabilities in developing countries, and to identify specific steps that can be taken to start addressing problems. A major objective of the project is to compile a compendium of guidelines that can be used by government authorities, advocacy groups, and donor/loan agencies to improve the access of people with disabilities to transport and other services in urban areas
Macroscopic Dynamics of Multi-Lane Traffic
We present a macroscopic model of mixed multi-lane freeway traffic that can
be easily calibrated to empirical traffic data, as is shown for Dutch highway
data. The model is derived from a gas-kinetic level of description, including
effects of vehicular space requirements and velocity correlations between
successive vehicles. We also give a derivation of the lane-changing rates. The
resulting dynamic velocity equations contain non-local and anisotropic
interaction terms which allow a robust and efficient numerical simulation of
multi-lane traffic. As demonstrated by various examples, this facilitates the
investigation of synchronization patterns among lanes and effects of on-ramps,
off-ramps, lane closures, or accidents.Comment: For related work see
http://www.theo2.physik.uni-stuttgart.de/helbing.htm
Coherent Moving States in Highway Traffic (Originally: Moving Like a Solid Block)
Recent advances in multiagent simulations have made possible the study of
realistic traffic patterns and allow to test theories based on driver
behaviour. Such simulations also display various empirical features of traffic
flows, and are used to design traffic controls that maximise the throughput of
vehicles in heavily transited highways. In addition to its intrinsic economic
value, vehicular traffic is of interest because it may throw light on some
social phenomena where diverse individuals competitively try to maximise their
own utilities under certain constraints.
In this paper, we present simulation results that point to the existence of
cooperative, coherent states arising from competitive interactions that lead to
a new phenomenon in heterogeneous highway traffic. As the density of vehicles
increases, their interactions cause a transition into a highly correlated state
in which all vehicles practically move with the same speed, analogous to the
motion of a solid block. This state is associated with a reduced lane changing
rate and a safe, high and stable flow. It disappears as the vehicle density
exceeds a critical value. The effect is observed in recent evaluations of Dutch
traffic data.Comment: Submitted on April 21, 1998. For related work see
http://www.theo2.physik.uni-stuttgart.de/helbing.html and
http://www.parc.xerox.com/dynamics
Regulation of Class-Switch Recombination and Plasma Cell Differentiation by Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Signaling
SummaryClass-switch recombination (CSR) is essential for humoral immunity. However, the regulation of CSR is not completely understood. Here we demonstrate that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) actively suppressed the onset and frequency of CSR in primary B cells. Consistently, mice lacking the lipid phosphatase, PTEN, in B cells exhibited a hyper-IgM condition due to impaired CSR, which could be restored in vitro by specific inhibition of PI3Kδ. Inhibition of CSR by PI3K was partially dependent on the transcription factor, BLIMP1, linking plasma cell commitment and cessation of CSR. PI3K-dependent activation of the serine-threonine kinase, Akt, suppressed CSR, in part, through the inactivation of the Forkhead Box family (Foxo) of transcription factors. Reduced PI3K signaling enhanced the expression of AID (activation-induced cytidine deaminase) and accelerated CSR. However, ectopic expression of AID could not fully overcome inhibition of CSR by PI3K, suggesting that PI3K regulates both the expression and function of AID
Generalized Force Model of Traffic Dynamics
Floating car data of car-following behavior in cities were compared to
existing microsimulation models, after their parameters had been calibrated to
the experimental data. With these parameter values, additional simulations have
been carried out, e.g. of a moving car which approaches a stopped car. It
turned out that, in order to manage such kinds of situations without producing
accidents, improved traffic models are needed. Good results have been obtained
with the proposed generalized force model.Comment: For related work see
http://www.theo2.physik.uni-stuttgart.de/helbing.htm
Modeling and Simulation of Multi-Lane Traffic Flow
A most important aspect in the field of traffic modeling is the simulation of
bottleneck situations. For their realistic description a macroscopic multi-lane
model for uni-directional freeways including acceleration, deceleration,
velocity fluctuations, overtaking and lane-changing maneuvers is systematically
deduced from a gas-kinetic (Boltzmann-like) approach. The resulting equations
contain corrections with respect to previous models. For efficient computer
simulations, a reduced model delineating the coarse-grained temporal behavior
is derived and applied to bottleneck situations.Comment: For related work see
http://www.theo2.physik.uni-stuttgart.de/helbing.htm
A Systems Approach to Developing a Model that Predicts Crop Ontogeny and Maturity in Broccoli in South-East Queensland
Farmers need a well planned crop scheduling program to maintain a regular supply of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck) to domestic and export markets which extend from May to September for crops in south-east Queensland. However, irregular production, due to variable temperatures, is a constraint in the production and distribution systems for broccoli. Variable temperatures influence the rate of crop development, time of harvest and crop quality, thereby impacting on marketing commitments which specify the amount, quality and date of supply. Thus, prediction of crop ontogeny is important for crop scheduling and maintaining continuity of supply of broccoli. Two methods are being used to develop a model of phenological development in broccoli. The first method uses a time of sowing experiment which records crop ontogeny for wide range of cultivars and climatic conditions. This method provides a high level of precision in determination of phenological events but has potential problem such as the difficulty of extrapolation from a small scale experiment to commercial crops. The second method uses historical records from a broccoli farm which reflect crop phenological development under commercial practice over a period of three years. This method has the advantage of using a number of crop performance records obtained from a range of prevailing climates but lacks the precision of the first method. Once both models exist, they can be separately validated against the data used to develop the other model. Furthermore, the ongoing year-by-year expansion in farm records represents new validation data for either model. Our three-step approach should lead to a more robust and credible model for predicting crop ontogeny in broccoli and it could also be applicable to other crops
Hydrogen bonding of nitroxide spin labels in membrane proteins
On the basis of experiments at 275 GHz, we reconsider the dependence of the
continuous-wave EPR spectra of nitroxide spin-labeled protein sites in
sensory- and bacteriorhodopsin on the micro-environment. The high magnetic
field provides the resolution necessary to disentangle the effects of hydrogen
bonding and polarity. In the gxx region of the 275 GHz EPR spectrum, bands are
resolved that derive from spin-label populations carrying no, one or two
hydrogen bonds. The gxx value of each population varies hardly from site to
site, significantly less than deduced previously from studies at lower
microwave frequencies. The fractions of the populations vary strongly, which
provides a consistent description of the variation of the average gxx and the
average nitrogen-hyperfine interaction Azz from site to site. These variations
reflect the difference in the proticity of the micro-environment, and
differences in polarity contribute marginally. Concomitant W-band ELDOR-
detected NMR experiments on the corresponding nitroxide in perdeuterated water
resolve population-specific nitrogen-hyperfine bands, which underlies the
interpretation for the proteins
CD98hc facilitates B cell proliferation and adaptive humoral immunity.
The proliferation of antigen-specific lymphocytes and resulting clonal expansion are essential for adaptive immunity. We report here that B cell-specific deletion of the heavy chain of CD98 (CD98hc) resulted in lower antibody responses due to total suppression of B cell proliferation and subsequent plasma cell formation. Deletion of CD98hc did not impair early B cell activation but did inhibit later activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase Erk1/2 and downregulation of the cell cycle inhibitor p27. Reconstitution of CD98hc-deficient B cells with CD98hc mutants showed that the integrin-binding domain of CD98hc was required for B cell proliferation but that the amino acid-transport function of CD98hc was dispensable for this. Thus, CD98hc supports integrin-dependent rapid proliferation of B cells. We propose that the advantage of adaptive immunity favored the appearance of CD98hc in vertebrates
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