Conditional Unscented Autoencoders for Trajectory Prediction

The \ac{CVAE} is one of the most widely-used models in trajectory prediction for \ac{AD}. It captures the interplay between a driving context and its ground-truth future into a probabilistic latent space and uses it to produce predictions. In this paper, we challenge key components of the CVAE. We leverage recent advances in the space of the VAE, the foundation of the CVAE, which show that a simple change in the sampling procedure can greatly benefit performance. We find that unscented sampling, which draws samples from any learned distribution in a deterministic manner, can naturally be better suited to trajectory prediction than potentially dangerous random sampling. We go further and offer additional improvements, including a more structured mixture latent space, as well as a novel, potentially more expressive way to do inference with CVAEs. We show wide applicability of our models by evaluating them on the INTERACTION prediction dataset, outperforming the state of the art, as well as at the task of image modeling on the CelebA dataset, outperforming the baseline vanilla CVAE. Code is available at https://github.com/boschresearch/cuae-prediction

Lensfree diffractive tomography for the imaging of 3D cell cultures

International audienceNew microscopes are needed to help realize the full potential of 3D organoid culture studies. In order to image large volume of 3D organoid cultures while preserving the ability to catch every single cell, we propose a new imaging platform based on lensfree microscopy. We have built a lensfree diffractive tomography setup performing multi-angle acquisitions of 3D organoid culture embedded in Matrigel ® and developed a dedicated 3D holographic reconstruction algorithm based on the Fourier diffraction theorem. With this new imaging platform, we have been able to reconstruct a 3D volume as large as 21.5 mm 3 of a 3D organoid culture of prostatic RWPE1 cells showing the ability of these cells to assemble in 3D intricate cellular network at the mesoscopic scale. Importantly, comparisons with 2D images show that it is possible to resolve single cells isolated from the main cellular structure with our lensfree diffractive tomography setup

A case study on sound level monitoring and management at large-scale music festivals

Sound level management at live events has been made immeasurably easier over the past decade or so through use of commercially-available sound level monitoring software. This paper details a study conducted at a large-scale multi-day music festival in Chicago, USA. The focus was twofold: first to explore how the use of noise monitoring software affects the mix level from sound engineers and second on how crowd size, density and distribution affect the mix level. Additionally, sound levels at various points in the audience were monitored to indicate audience sound exposure over the duration of the festival. Results are presented in relation to those from previous studies with key findings pointing towards recommendations for best practice.N/

Mortality Reduction Associated with HIV/AIDS Care and Antiretroviral Treatment in Rural Malawi: Evidence from Registers, Coffin Sales and Funerals

BACKGROUND: To report on the trend in all-cause mortality in a rural district of Malawi that has successfully scaled-up HIV/AIDS care including antiretroviral treatment (ART) to its population, through corroborative evidence from a) registered deaths at traditional authorities (TAs), b) coffin sales and c) church funerals. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Retrospective study in 5 of 12 TAs (covering approximately 50% of the population) during the period 2000-2007. A total of 210 villages, 24 coffin workshops and 23 churches were included. There were a total of 18,473 registered deaths at TAs, 15781 coffins sold, and 2762 church funerals. Between 2000 and 2007, there was a highly significant linear downward trend in death rates, sale of coffins and church funerals (X(2) for linear trend: 338.4 P<0.0001, 989 P<0.0001 and 197, P<0.0001 respectively). Using data from TAs as the most reliable source of data on deaths, overall death rate reduction was 37% (95% CI:33-40) for the period. The mean annual incremental death rate reduction was 0.52/1000/year. Death rates decreased over time as the percentage of people living with HIV/AIDS enrolled into care and ART increased. Extrapolating these data to the entire district population, an estimated 10,156 (95% CI: 9786-10259) deaths would have been averted during the 8-year period. CONCLUSIONS: Registered deaths at traditional authorities, the sale of coffins and church funerals showed a significant downward trend over a 8-year period which we believe was associated with the scaling up HIV/AIDS care and ART

Mesothelioma cells depend on the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL for survival and are sensitized to ionizing radiation by BH3-mimetics

The incidence of mesothelioma continues to rise and prognosis remains dismal due to resistance to conventional therapies and few novel treatment options. Failure to activate apoptotic cell death is a resistance mechanism that may be overcome by inhibition of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins using BH3-mimetic drugs. We investigated the role of anti-apoptotic proteins in the radioresistance of mesothelioma, identifying clinically-relevant targets for radiosensitization and evaluating the activity of BH3-mimetics alone and in combination with radiotherapy in pre-clinical models. Mesothelioma cell lines 211H, H2052 and H226 exposed to BH3-mimetics demonstrated Bcl-xL dependence that correlated with protein expression and was confirmed by genetic knockdown. The Bcl-xL inhibitor A1331852 exhibited cytotoxic (EC50 0.13-1.42 μmol/L) and radiosensitizing activities (sensitizer enhancement ratios 1.3-1.8). Cytotoxicity was associated with induction of mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization and caspase-3/7 activation. Efficacy was maintained in a three-dimensional model in which combination therapy completely eradicated mesothelioma spheroids. Clinical applicability was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis of Bcl-2 proteins in patient samples and radiosensitizing activity of A1331852 in primary patient-derived mesothelioma cells. Mesothelioma cells exhibit addiction to the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL and their intrinsic radioresistance can be overcome by small molecule inhibition of this novel therapeutic target

Charting the complete elastic properties of inorganic crystalline compounds

The elastic constant tensor of an inorganic compound provides a complete description of the response of the material to external stresses in the elastic limit. It thus provides fundamental insight into the nature of the bonding in the material, and it is known to correlate with many mechanical properties. Despite the importance of the elastic constant tensor, it has been measured for a very small fraction of all known inorganic compounds, a situation that limits the ability of materials scientists to develop new materials with targeted mechanical responses. To address this deficiency, we present here the largest database of calculated elastic properties for inorganic compounds to date. The database currently contains full elastic information for 1,181 inorganic compounds, and this number is growing steadily. The methods used to develop the database are described, as are results of tests that establish the accuracy of the data. In addition, we document the database format and describe the different ways it can be accessed and analyzed in efforts related to materials discovery and design

When Journalists go "Below the Line': comment spaces at the Guardian (2006-2017)

Based on a longitudinal research design (2006–2017), this article analyses how Guardian journalists engage in “below the line” comment spaces; what factors shape this engagement; and how this has evolved over time. The article combines a large-scale quantitative analysis of the total number of comments made (n = 110,263,661) and a manual content analysis of all comments made by 26 journalists (n = 5448) and their broader writing practices with 18 semi-structured interviews conducted in two phases (13 in 2012 and 5 repeated in 2017–18). The results show that there is considerable interest in comment spaces amongst readers, with exponential growth in user commenting. Furthermore, there has been significant engagement below the line by some Guardian journalists, and this is often in the form of direct and sustained reciprocity. Journalist commenting has waned in recent years due to difficulties coping with the volume of comments; changes in editorial emphasis; concerns over incivility and abuse; and a decrease in perceived journalistic benefits of commenting, alongside the rise in importance of Twitter. When journalists comment, they do so in a variety of ways and their comments are often substantive, significantly adding to the story by, for example, defending and explaining their journalism practice

The Astropy Problem

The Astropy Project (http://astropy.org) is, in its own words, "a community effort to develop a single core package for Astronomy in Python and foster interoperability between Python astronomy packages." For five years this project has been managed, written, and operated as a grassroots, self-organized, almost entirely volunteer effort while the software is used by the majority of the astronomical community. Despite this, the project has always been and remains to this day effectively unfunded. Further, contributors receive little or no formal recognition for creating and supporting what is now critical software. This paper explores the problem in detail, outlines possible solutions to correct this, and presents a few suggestions on how to address the sustainability of general purpose astronomical software