Drivers’ behaviour modelling for virtual worlds

In this paper we present a study that looks at modelling drivers’ behaviour with a view to contribute to the problem of road rage. The approach we adopt is based on agent technology, particularly multi-agent systems. Each driver is represented by a software agent. A virtual environment is used to simulate drivers’ behaviour, thus enabling us to observe the conditions leading to road rage. The simulated model is then used to suggest possible ways of alleviating this societal problem. Our agents are equipped with an emotional module which will make their behaviours more human-like. For this, we propose a computational emotion model based on the OCC model and probabilistic cognitive maps. The key influencing factors that are included in the model are personality, emotions and some social/personal attributes

D3S: A Framework for Enabling Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as a Service

In this paper, we consider the use of UAVs to provide wireless connectivity services, for example after failures of wireless network components or to simply provide additional bandwidth on demand, and introduce the concept of UAVs as a service (UaaS). To facilitate UaaS, we introduce a novel framework, dubbed D3S, which consists of four phases: demand, decision, deployment, and service. The main objective of this framework is to develop efficient and realistic solutions to implement these four phases. The technical problems include determining the type and number of UAVs to be deployed, and also their final locations (e.g., hovering or on-ground), which is important for serving certain applications. These questions will be part of the decision phase. They also include trajectory planning of UAVs when they have to travel between charging stations and deployment locations and may have to do this several times. These questions will be part of the deployment phase. The service phase includes the implementation of the backbone communication and data routing between UAVs and between UAVs and ground control stations

A Possible Potentiating Antidepressant Effect of Venlafaxine by Recombinant Rat Leptin in a Rat Model of Chronic Mild Stress

Abstract: The present study was designed to investigate the possible changes in forced swimming test (FST), prefrontal cortical glutamate and gamma amino-butyric acid (GABA) contents by leptin and/or venlafaxine in chronic mild stress (CMS)-induced anhedonia in male albino rats. They were divided into 5 groups: the first group was not exposed to CMS, the second group received normal saline with exposure to CMS, the third group received leptin 1 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally (ip) for 3 weeks after CMS induced anhedonia was assesed by sucrose consumption test, the fourth group received venlafaxine 8 mg/kg/day ip for 3 weeks after CMS protocol, and the fifth group was received both medications for 3 weeks. Leptin and/or venlafaxine restored the changes in sucrose consumption test, behavioural assessment by forced swimming test (FST) as well as prefrontal cortical GABA and glutamate contents in the control stressed group. Furthermore, combination of both treatments seems to be more efficacious than venlafaxine alone in these parameters. In conclusion,these results showed a potential antidepressant role of leptin and beneficial therapeutic interaction with venlafaxine by affecting the GABA and glutamate level in prefrontal cortex. These actions could make leptin a potentially valuable drug for the treatment of depression

Renoprotective and antioxidant renal effects of cilnidipine in DOCA Salt -Treated Albino Rats

Aim: Cilnidipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (CCB) that blocks both L-type and N- type channels at the smooth muscle in the artery and calcium channels at the presynaptic nerve terminal, respectively. It is dihydropyridine calcium antagonist that possesses a slow-onset, long-lasting vasodilating effect. The present study is designed to determine the effect of cilnidipine on creatinine clearance, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, as an index of lipid peroxidation. Additionally, the level of superoxide dismutase enzyme in erythrocyte lysates and kidney catalase enzyme activitiy will be measured. Thirty-six albino rats are divided into 3 separate groups: rats of group 1 are control group, rats of group 2 are administered by deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) salt sc twice/week + 1% NaCl for 2 weeks to be rendered hypertensive) and group 3 will receive 9 mg/kg cilnidipine for 3 weeks intragastrically after induction of hypertension by DOCA-salt as group 2. Results: DOCA-injected albino rats show marked reduction in creatinine clearance. Treatment with cilnidipine improves creatinine clearance compared to the non-treated hypertensive group 2. Additionally, it reduces thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, as an index of lipid peroxidation, with a significant increase in superoxide dismutase enzyme in erythrocyte lysates and kidney catalase enzyme activities. Conclusion: This study points to the possible beneficial renal protective effects of cilnidipine in hypertensive albino rats injected with DOCA for 2 weeks

Soil compaction loosener

Soil compaction is a potential problem in many agricultural soils due to the increasing mass of agricultural vehicles and equipment and tendency of farmers to work fields when soil is wet. A review of literature showed that some control measures can be taken such as controlling traffic to reduce compaction or use of tillage to remove the effects of compaction. Many implements have been used to loosen compacted soil, but in their design compaction depth was not considered and also these implements are designed for full width tillage as opposed to tillage only in the zone that has been compacted by traffic. A controllable device that would remove soil compaction immediately after being trafficked by the agricultural vehicle is needed;A relationship between compaction depth and sinkage depth was developed from literature describing previous research. Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to verify this relationship. In the laboratory experiment soil at varying water contents was compacted with a metal plate made to simulate the tractor tire. Different stresses were used to create different sinkage depths. Bulk density and sinkage depth formed as a result of stress applied were measured. Bulk density of the control soil was subtracted from bulk density of the compacted soil and the difference was used to determine the depth at which the stress applied increased bulk density by 0.05 Mg/m[superscript]3. In the field experiment, a tractor with different tire inflation pressures and with different axle loads was used to traffic plots to create different sinkage depths. Bulk density samples were taken and analyzed as in the laboratory experiment to determine the compaction depth. A curve fitting technique was used to determine the best curve to represent the data. Results showed that compaction depth, Y, can be related to sinkage depth, X, by the empirical relationship, Y = bX[superscript] m where b and m are constants. The laboratory experiment on Webster silty clay loam soil showed compaction depth to be related to sinkage depth by Y = 52.5X[superscript]0.32 with R[superscript]2 of 0.82. The field experiment on Nicollet loam soil showed compaction depth to be related to sinkage depth by Y = 13.9X[superscript]0.73 with R[superscript]2 of 0.50;A double layer soil compaction loosener was developed. The design chosen was selected from three models tested on dry and wet soil in an indoor soil bin. A field experiment to measure sinkages formed by a tractor with different inflation pressures on the rear tires and different axle loads was conducted to evaluate the performance of the loosener. Depth of tillage with the loosener was controlled by the equation Y = 13.9X[superscript]0.73. Tillage of the trafficked soil with the soil loosener reduced bulk density from 1.48 to 1.26 Mg/m[superscript]3 and cone index from 406 to 55 kPa

The impact of fiscal policy shocks in the United Kingdom: an empirical investigation

MPhilThis paper empirically examines the impact of shocks to government spending and government revenues on main macroeconomic variables in the UK. We apply the methodology of Mountford and Uhlig (2009) to analyze the effectiveness of fiscal policy in the UK and compare our results with the literature on fiscal policy in the US. Following a government spending shock in the UK, there is an immediate increase in output, private investment and real wages. Regarding the government revenue shock, it is contradictory in the US. In the UK, however, private investment and GDP react positively to this shock