Application of Metaheuristics in Signal Optimisation of Transportation Networks: A Comprehensive Survey

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.With rapid population growth, there is an urgent need for intelligent traffic control techniques in urban transportation networks to improve the network performance. In an urban transportation network, traffic signals have a significant effect on reducing congestion, improving safety, and improving environmental pollution. In recent years, researchers have been applied metaheuristic techniques for signal timing optimisation as one of the practical solution to enhance the performance of the transportation networks. Current study presents a comprehensive survey of such techniques and tools used in signal optimisation of transportation networks, providing a categorisation of approaches, discussion, and suggestions for future research

Optimisation of Signal Timings in a Road Network

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Springer via the DOI in this recordRoad network simulation models and tools are increasingly being used for strategic and operational traffic management with the use of widely available online traffic data. The widespread use of such models raises the prospect of transport system optimisation, improving energy consumption, delays and carbon emissions. Although strategic interventions such as the building of new roads or infrastructure is costly and time-consuming, significant savings can be made through the modelling and optimisation of the operation of the network through signal timings.Innovate U

Rethinking the geographies of cultural ‘objects’ through digital technologies: interface, network and friction

This paper addresses how geographers conceptualize cultural artifacts. Many geographical studies of cultural objects continue to depend heavily on an approach developed as part of the ‘new cultural geography’ in the 1980s. That approach examined the cultural politics of representations of place, space and landscape by undertaking close readings of specific cultural objects. Over three decades on, the cultural field (certainly in the Global North) has changed fundamentally, as digital technologies for the creation and dissemination of meaning have become extraordinarily pervasive and diverse. Yet geographical studies of cultural objects have thus far neglected to consider the conceptual and methodological implications of this shift. This paper argues that such studies must begin to map the complexities of digitally-mediated cultural production, circulation and interpretation. It will argue that, to do this, it is necessary to move away from the attentive gaze on stable cultural objects as formulated by some of the new cultural geography, and instead focus on mapping the dynamics of the production, circulation and modification of meaning at digital interfaces and across frictional networks

Activation of HIPK2 Promotes ER Stress-Mediated Neurodegeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Persistent accumulation of misfolded proteins causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, a prominent feature in many neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here we report the identification of homeodomain interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) as the essential link that promotes ER stress-induced cell death via the IRE1α-ASK1-JNK pathway. ER stress, induced by tunicamycin or SOD1(G93A), activates HIPK2 by phosphorylating highly conserved serine and threonine residues (S359/T360) within the activation loop of the HIPK2 kinase domain. In SOD1(G93A) mice, loss of HIPK2 delays disease onset, reduces cell death in spinal motor neurons, mitigates glial pathology, and improves survival. Remarkably, HIPK2 activation positively correlates with TDP-43 proteinopathy in NEFH-tTA/tetO-hTDP-43ΔNLS mice, sporadic ALS and C9ORF72 ALS, and blocking HIPK2 kinase activity protects motor neurons from TDP-43 cytotoxicity. These results reveal a previously unrecognized role of HIPK2 activation in ER stress-mediated neurodegeneration, and its potential role as a biomarker and therapeutic target for ALS

Os caminhos da estatística e suas incursões pela epidemiologia The paths of statistics and its incursions through epidemiology

Neste trabalho, contempla-se o desenvolvimento da Estatística, desde suas origens probabilísticas até os atuais modelos de "dependência" no tempo e no espaço. Avalia-se a evolução do método quantitativo na abordagem epidemiológica, como também procura-se estabelecer limites das técnicas estatísticas habituais, discutindo-se suas suposições teóricas e sua adequação ao tratamento analítico das informações. Enfatizam-se a importância do desenvolvimento e/ou generalização de procedimentos que possam ajudar a superar as dificuldades metodológicas ainda encontradas em diversos estudos de inferência causal em Epidemiologia.<br>In this paper the development of Statistics is contemplated from its probabilistic fundamentals until the current studies of time and space "dependence". Some applications of the quantitative method in the epidemiologic approach are evaluated. An attempt is made to establish some limits to the current statistical techniques through the discussion of theoretical assumptions and their adequacy to analyse empirical data. The development (or generalization) of new procedures that could possibly help to overcome methodological difficulties that are still found in various analysis of causal inference in Epidemiology is emphasized

Resettlement and relocation options for coastal communities

With a nation highly vulnerable, with a risk index of 28.57% and ranked second worldwide by the World Risk Report to be affected by disasters caused by natural hazards and to the effects of climate change, many people are ramping up plans to address these projected events. As a result, it is a necessity for Tonga to strengthen its response to climate change, continue to be more resilient, and, most importantly, address migration and human rights in the context of climate change (e.g., climigration). Here, a concurrent convergence parallel triangulation design of 460 residents from 5 coastal communities, Kanokupolu, ‘Ahau, Tukutonga, Popua, and Manuka in Tongatapu, Tonga, was used – to provide a better understanding of whether people in these communities needed a resettlement and relocation options or not. The quantitative analysis revealed that based on this sample, people in this chapter would choose Australia and New Zealand as the two most preferred countries for climigration. The same factors were explored qualitatively and found Australia to be the preferment country for climigration. Based on this result, it is recommended that a relocation and/or climigration policy should be adopted for Tonga as part of its resilient Tonga by 2035 and beyond