Drivers’ Response to Scenarios when Driving Connected and Automated Vehicles Compared to Vehicles with and without Driver Assist Technology

Traffic related crashes cause more than 38,000 fatalities every year in the United States. They are the leading cause of death among drivers up to 54 years in age and incur $871 million in losses each year. Driver errors contribute to about 94% of these crashes. In response, automotive companies have been developing vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that aid in various driving tasks. These features are aimed at enhancing safety by either warning drivers of a potential hazard or picking up certain driving maneuvers like maintaining the lane. These features are already part of vehicles with Driver Assistance Technology, and they are vital for successful deployment of connected and automated vehicles in the near future. However, drivers\u27 responses to driving vehicles with advanced features have been meagerly explored. This research evaluates driver participants\u27 response to scenarios when driving connected and automated vehicles compared to vehicles with and without Driver Assistance Technology. The research developed rural, urban, and freeway driving scenarios in a driver simulator and tested on participants sixteen years to sixty-five years old. The research team explored two types of advanced features by categorizing them into warnings and automated features. The results show that the advanced features affected driving behavior by making driver participants less aggressive and harmonizing the driving environment. This research also discovered that the type of driving scenario influences the effect of advanced features on driver behavior. Additionally, aggressive driving behavior was observed most in male participants and during nighttime conditions. Rainy conditions and female participants were associated with less aggressive driving behavior. The findings from this research help to assess driver behavior when driving vehicles with advanced features. They can be inputted into microsimulation software to model the effect of vehicles with advanced features on the performance of transportation systems, advancing technology that could eventually save millions of dollars and thousands of lives

Influence of Ethylene Inhibitors and Ethrel on Production of Protocorm Like Bodies in Orchid-Dendrobium 'Sonia'

To increase the efficiency of production of protocorm like bodies, ethylene inhibitors like silver nitrate, salicylic acid and cobalt chloride at three concentrations, viz., 2, 5 and 20 μM and ethrel at 0.7, 1.4 and 14.0 μM were tested, by supplementing MS basal with BAP 4.44 μM. The explant used was fractionated protocorm like bodies (plb). Ethylene and methane gases evolved by the explant in the culture container were measured at 20 and 40 days after inoculation (DAI). Among various ethylene inhibitors tested, the maximum number of plb's were produced in media containing silver nitrate (5 μM), cobalt chloride (2 μM) and salicylic acid (20 μM). All ethrel treatments produced succulent, vitrified and deformed plb's. No ethylene evolution was observed in any of the ethylene inhibitor treatments. Only in ethrel treatments was evolution of ethylene observed. Methane evolution was observed in all the ethylene inhibitor treatments. Absolute amounts of methane evolved could not be related to the observed plb production. However, when the evolution of methane was more than 1 nano mole g-1 FW h-1, poor plb production was observed

Second Survey of County Health Departments of Kansas and COVID 19: Time for Change in Model for Pandemic Response

Introduction. SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) causing COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) continues to be widespread in Kansas.  County health departments are trying to contain this pandemic.  Methods. This second survey of Kansas county health department directors occurred from August 7 to September 7, 2020.  Since the first survey in April, there have been significant increases in the number of positive cases of COVID-19 and related deaths.  Thus, the aim of the study was to re-evaluate county-level containment efforts and assess shortfalls that were previously identified in the April 2020 survey. Results. In total, 41 out of 105 directors responded to the survey.  Generally, respondents said there were increased supplies for testing, increased testing centers, shorter time to get test results, and in some cases, increased funding.  However, the number of people involved in contact tracing had not substantially increased, which was one of the recommended changes for improving containment.  Moreover, of those persons who were tested, only a few (18%) counties inquired if they wear masks in public.  From comments reported, there was a sense of employees being overwhelmed, especially among the smaller county health departments. Conclusions. As the cases of and deaths from COVID-19 are increasing in the state, especially in high density areas, the respondents to our survey indicate there is continued need for additional  funding with easy access, increased staffing, especially for contact tracing, and significant help for effective messaging to improve adherence to public health directives

Hardware Implementation of Densely Packed Decimal Encoding-An optimized approach supporting run-time user input

BCD Encoding scheme represents each Decimal digit(Base 10) by its own binary sequence of 4 bits.Though this scheme remains highly use- ful for storage and simple operations on decimal data,compact represen- tations hold more signicance in some applications.An encoding scheme was proposed by Chen and Ho named "Chen-Ho Encoding".This encoding represents a three digit decimal in 10 bits unlike BCD which requires 12 bits,thus giving more eciency and less wastage.This uses an algorithm which uses simple boolean operations to compress the 12 BCD bits into 10 and also reverse the process[1].DPD encoding is an improvisation of Chen-Ho encoding scheme.This overcomes the limitation of Chen-Ho encoding which requires the decimal number to be a multiple of 3 digits[2].This codes arbitrary length deci- mal numbers as 10 bits.This enables the best use of available resources like storage space and hardware registers.BCD encoding results in high wastage of bit-pattern space.The objective of DPD compression is to use this space for a long string of digits.This thesis embodies the work done to implement an optimized Densely Packed Decimal (DPD) encoding on hardware using VHDL and Xilinx Spartan 3E FPGA

Non-antibiotic selection systems for soybean somatic embryos: the lysine analog aminoethyl-cysteine as a selection agent

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In soybean somatic embryo transformation, the standard selection agent currently used is hygromycin. It may be preferable to avoid use of antibiotic resistance genes in foods. The objective of these experiments was to develop a selection system for producing transgenic soybean somatic embryos without the use of antibiotics such as hygromycin.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>When tested against different alternate selection agents our studies show that 0.16 μg/mL glufosinate, 40 mg/L isopropylamine-glyphosate, 0.5 mg/mL (S-(2 aminoethyl)-L-cysteine) (AEC) and the acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors Exceed^®and Synchrony^®both at 150 μg/mL inhibited soybean somatic embryo growth. Even at the concentration of 2 mg/mL, lysine+threonine (LT) were poor selection agents. The use of AEC may be preferable since it is a natural compound. Unlike the plant enzyme, dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DHPS) from <it>E. coli </it>is not feed-back inhibited by physiological concentrations of lysine. The <it>dapA </it>gene which codes for <it>E. coli </it>DHPS was expressed in soybean somatic embryos under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter. Following introduction of the construct into embryogenic tissue of soybean, transgenic events were recovered by incubating the tissue in liquid medium containing AEC at a concentration of 5 mM. Only transgenic soybeans were able to grow at this concentration of AEC; no escapes were observed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Genetically engineered soybeans expressing a lysine insensitive DHPS gene can be selected with the non-antibiotic selection agent AEC. We also report here the inhibitory effects of glufosinate, (isopropylamine-glyphosate) (Roundup^®), AEC and the ALS inhibitors Exceed^®and Synchrony^®against different tissues of soybean</p

Abdominal Ultrasound and Abdominal Radiograph to Diagnose Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Extremely Preterm Infants

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an important contributor towardmortality in extremely premature infants and Very Low Birth Weight(VLBW) infants. The incidence of NEC was 9% in VLBW infants(birth weight 401 to 1,500 grams) in the Vermont Oxford Network(VON, 2006 to 2010, n = 188,703).1 The incidence of NEC was 7%in 1993, increased to 13% in 2008, and decreased to 9% in extremelypreterm infants (22 to 28 weeks gestation) in the Neonatal ResearchNetwork Centers (1993 to 2012).2 The incidence of surgically treatedNEC varies from 28 to 50% in all infants who develop NEC.3 SurgicalNEC occurred in 52% in the VON cohort.1 In this cohort, the odds ofsurgery decreased by 5% for each 100 gram increase in birth.The incidence of surgical NEC has not decreased in the pastdecade.4 The mortality from NEC is significantly higher in infantswho need surgery compared to those who did not (35% versus 21%).1The case fatality rate among patients with NEC is higher in thosesurgically treated (23 to 36%) compared to those medically treated (5to 24%).3 In addition to surgery, NEC mortality rates are influencedby gestational age, birth weight,1,2,5 assisted ventilation on the day ofdiagnosis of NEC, treatment with vasopressors at diagnosis of NEC,and black race.6,7Extremely preterm infants who survive NEC are at risk for severeneurodevelopmental disability and those with surgical NEC have asignificantly higher risk of such delays (38% surgical NEC versus 24%medical NEC).8 Diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis is challengingand it is usually suspected based on non-specific clinical signs. Bell’scriteria and Vermont-Oxford Network criteria help in the diagnosisof NEC.Bell’s criteria, commonly used for diagnosis, staging, and planningtreatment of NEC, were described in 1978 and modified in 1986.9,10Bell’s stage I signs are non-specific: temperature instability, lethargy,decreased perfusion, emesis or regurgitation of food, abdominal distension,recurrent apnea, and on occasion, increased support withmechanical ventilation. Abdominal distension and emesis are morecommon than bloody stools in very preterm infants compared to terminfants.7 Abdominal radiographic findings are an integral part of Bell’scriteria. Identification of Bell’s stage I NEC (early NEC) with abdominalradiograph is challenging, as the features on abdominal radiograph(normal gas pattern or mild ileus) are non-specific. With progressionof NEC to Bell Stage IIA, the symptoms (grossly bloody stools,prominent abdominal distension, absent bowel sounds) and featureson abdominal radiographs (one or more dilated loops and focal pneumatosis)are more specific.On the other hand, the Vermont Oxford Network criteria for NECconsist of at least one physical finding (bilious gastric aspirate oremesis, abdominal distension or occult/gross blood in the stool inthe absence of anal fissure) and at least one feature on abdominalradiograph (pneumatosis intestinalis, hepatobiliary gas, or pneumoperitoneum).1 These features correspond to Bell Stage IIA or StageIIB and are not features of early NEC. Thus relying solely on abdominalradiograph for diagnosis of early NEC, as is practiced currently,has significant drawbacks especially in extremely premature infants.7Ultrasound has been suggested to improve the percentage of infantsdiagnosed with early NEC.11 However, this imaging modality is notused routinely in the diagnosis or management of NEC.As the incidence of surgical NEC and mortality from NEC continuesto be high, the literature to demonstrate the shortcomings ofabdominal radiographs and promise of abdominal ultrasound in diagnosisof NEC is reviewed

FIZ1 is part of the regulatory protein complex on active photoreceptor-specific gene promoters in vivo

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>FIZ1 (Flt-3 Interacting Zinc-finger) is a broadly expressed protein of unknown function. We reported previously that in the mammalian retina, FIZ1 interacts with NRL (Neural-Retina Leucine-zipper), an essential transcriptional activator of rod photoreceptor-specific genes. The concentration of FIZ1 in the retina increases during photoreceptor terminal maturation, when two key transcription factors NRL and CRX (Cone-Rod Homeobox) become detectable on the promoters of photoreceptor-specific genes (i.e. <it>Rhodopsin, Pde6b</it>). To determine if FIZ1 is involved in regulating CRX-mediated transcriptional activation, we examined FIZ1 subcellular location in mouse neural retina, its ability to interact with CRX, and its association with CRX/NRL target genes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>FIZ1 is present in the nucleus of adult photoreceptors as well as other retinal neurons as shown by transmission electron microscopy with nano-gold labeling. FIZ1 and CRX were co-precipitated from retinal nuclear extracts with antibodies to either protein. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays revealed that FIZ1 is part of the protein complex on several rod and cone gene promoters, within photoreceptor cells of the mouse retina. FIZ1 complexes with CRX or NRL on known NRL- and CRX-responsive elements, as shown by electrophoretic mobility shift assays with FIZ1 antibody. FIZ1 can directly bind to CRX, as demonstrated using yeast two-hybrid and GST pull-down assays. Co-transfection assays demonstrated that FIZ1 increases CRX-mediated activation of <it>Opsin </it>test promoters. Quantitative ChIP analysis revealed an increased association of FIZ1 with the <it>Rhodopsin </it>promoter in adult (P-25) neural retina versus immature (P-3) neural retina. The quantity of transcriptionally active RNA Polymerase-II within the <it>Rhodopsin </it>gene (<it>Rho</it>) was significantly increased in the adult neural retina, compared to the immature retina.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>FIZ1 directly interacts with CRX to enhance CRX's transactivation activity for target genes. Developmentally, in neural retina tissue, the increased association of FIZ1 with CRX target genes corresponds to an increased association of transcriptionally active Pol-II within the <it>Rho </it>gene. Together with previous findings, our results suggest that FIZ1 may act as a transcriptional co-regulator of photoreceptor-specific genes, recruited by at least two photoreceptor-specific transcription factors, CRX and NRL. Further studies are underway to elucidate the exact role of FIZ1 in photoreceptor gene expression, development and maintenance.</p

BiPhone: Modeling Inter Language Phonetic Influences in Text

A large number of people are forced to use the Web in a language they have low literacy in due to technology asymmetries. Written text in the second language (L2) from such users often contains a large number of errors that are influenced by their native language (L1). We propose a method to mine phoneme confusions (sounds in L2 that an L1 speaker is likely to conflate) for pairs of L1 and L2. These confusions are then plugged into a generative model (Bi-Phone) for synthetically producing corrupted L2 text. Through human evaluations, we show that Bi-Phone generates plausible corruptions that differ across L1s and also have widespread coverage on the Web. We also corrupt the popular language understanding benchmark SuperGLUE with our technique (FunGLUE for Phonetically Noised GLUE) and show that SoTA language understating models perform poorly. We also introduce a new phoneme prediction pre-training task which helps byte models to recover performance close to SuperGLUE. Finally, we also release the FunGLUE benchmark to promote further research in phonetically robust language models. To the best of our knowledge, FunGLUE is the first benchmark to introduce L1-L2 interactions in text.Comment: Accepted at ACL 202