Exploration of Contributing Factors of Different Distracted Driving Behaviors

The motivation of this research is to explore the contributing factors of driving distraction and compare the contributing factors for three typical distracted driving behaviours: drinking water, answering a phone and using mobile phone application (APP) while driving. An online survey including a driving behaviour scale and the Theory of Planned Behaviour Questionnaire (TPB Questionnaire) was conducted to obtain data related to these driving distractions. An integral structural equation model based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) was established to explain the factors causing three typical distracted behaviours, and the causes of differences for three typical distracted behaviours were compared. The result shows that the attitudes and perceived behaviour control are the main factors causing distracted behaviours, and the subjective norm has a significant impact on answering a phone while driving. The occurrence of a distracted driving behaviour is the consequence of behaviour intention and perceived behaviour control. These conclusions provide insights for implementing behaviour modification and traffic laws education.</p

Simulation-Based Dynamic Passenger Flow Assignment Modelling for a Schedule-Based Transit Network

The online operation management and the offline policy evaluation in complex transit networks require an effective dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) method that can capture the temporal-spatial nature of traffic flows. The objective of this work is to propose a simulation-based dynamic passenger assignment framework and models for such applications in the context of schedule-based rail transit systems. In the simulation framework, travellers are regarded as individual agents who are able to obtain complete information on the current traffic conditions. A combined route selection model integrated with pretrip route selection and entrip route switch is established for achieving the dynamic network flow equilibrium status. The train agent is operated strictly with the timetable and its capacity limitation is considered. A continuous time-driven simulator based on the proposed framework and models is developed, whose performance is illustrated through a large-scale network of Beijing subway. The results indicate that more than 0.8 million individual passengers and thousands of trains can be simulated simultaneously at a speed ten times faster than real time. This study provides an efficient approach to analyze the dynamic demand-supply relationship for large schedule-based transit networks

Kerr-nonlinearity Enhanced Conventional Photon Blockade in Second-order-nonlinear System

In the recent publication [Phys. Rev. B 87, 235319 (2013)], the conventional photon blockade(CPB) was studied for the low frequency mode in a second-order nonlinear system. In this paper, we will study the CPB for the high frequency mode in a second-order nonlinear system with the Kerr nonlinearity filling in the low-frequency cavity. By solving the master equation and calculating the zero-delay-time second order correlation function $g^{(2)}(0)$, strong photon antibunching can be obtained in the high frequency cavity. The optimal condition for strong antibunching is found by analyticcal culations and discussions of the optimal condition are presented. We find that the Kerr-nonlinearities can enhanced the CPB effect. In addition, this scheme is not sensitive to the reservoir temperature, which make the current system easier to implement experimentally

Conformational B-Cell Epitope Prediction on Antigen Protein Structures: A Review of Current Algorithms and Comparison with Common Binding Site Prediction Methods

Accurate prediction of B-cell antigenic epitopes is important for immunologic research and medical applications, but compared with other bioinformatic problems, antigenic epitope prediction is more challenging because of the extreme variability of antigenic epitopes, where the paratope on the antibody binds specifically to a given epitope with high precision. In spite of the continuing efforts in the past decade, the problem remains unsolved and therefore still attracts a lot of attention from bioinformaticists. Recently, several discontinuous epitope prediction servers became available, and it is intriguing to review all existing methods and evaluate their performances on the same benchmark. In addition, these methods are also compared against common binding site prediction algorithms, since they have been frequently used as substitutes in the absence of good epitope prediction methods

Corrections to LRT on Large Dimensional Covariance Matrix by RMT

In this paper, we give an explanation to the failure of two likelihood ratio procedures for testing about covariance matrices from Gaussian populations when the dimension is large compared to the sample size. Next, using recent central limit theorems for linear spectral statistics of sample covariance matrices and of random F-matrices, we propose necessary corrections for these LR tests to cope with high-dimensional effects. The asymptotic distributions of these corrected tests under the null are given. Simulations demonstrate that the corrected LR tests yield a realized size close to nominal level for both moderate p (around 20) and high dimension, while the traditional LR tests with chi-square approximation fails. Another contribution from the paper is that for testing the equality between two covariance matrices, the proposed correction applies equally for non-Gaussian populations yielding a valid pseudo-likelihood ratio test.Comment: 25 pages, 2 figures and 3 table

The value of histopathology combined with CapitalBio Mycobacterium real-time polymerase chain reaction test for diagnosing spinal tuberculosis

PurposeTo evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of CapitalBio Mycobacterium real-time polymerase chain reaction assay (CapitalBio test) in spinal tuberculosis (STB). The value of histopathology combined with the CapitalBio test in diagnosing STB was also assessed.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the medical information of suspected STB. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and area under the curve (AUC) of histopathology, CapitalBio test, and histopathology combined with CapitalBio test were calculated to evaluate their diagnostic efficacy compared with a composite reference standard.ResultsA total of 222 suspected STB patients were included in the study. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and AUC of histopathology for STB were recorded to be 62.0, 98.0, 97.4, 68.3%, and 0.80, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and AUC of the CapitalBio test were 75.2, 98.0, 97.9, 76.7%, and 0.87, respectively, while that of histopathology combined with the CapitalBio test was 81.0, 96.0, 96.1, 80.8%, and 0.89, respectively.ConclusionHistopathology and CapitalBio test exhibited high accuracy and are recommended in diagnosing STB. Histopathology combined with the CapitalBio test might give the best efficacy in STB diagnosis

Impacts of exercise intervention on various diseases in rats.

BackgroundExercise is considered as an important intervention for treatment and prevention of several diseases, such as osteoarthritis, obesity, hypertension, and Alzheimer's disease. This review summarizes decadal exercise intervention studies with various rat models across 6 major systems to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms behind the effects that exercise brought.MethodsPubMed was utilized as the data source. To collect research articles, we used the following terms to create the search: (exercise [Title] OR physical activity [Title] OR training [Title]) AND (rats [Title/Abstract] OR rat [Title/Abstract] OR rattus [Title/Abstract]). To best cover targeted studies, publication dates were limited to "within 11 years." The exercise intervention methods used for different diseases were sorted according to the mode, frequency, and intensity of exercise.ResultsThe collected articles were categorized into studies related to 6 systems or disease types: motor system (17 articles), metabolic system (110 articles), cardiocerebral vascular system (171 articles), nervous system (71 articles), urinary system (2 articles), and cancer (21 articles). Our review found that, for different diseases, exercise intervention mostly had a positive effect. However, the most powerful effect was achieved by using a specific mode of exercise that addressed the characteristics of the disease.ConclusionAs a model animal, rats not only provide a convenient resource for studying human diseases but also provide the possibility for exploring the molecular mechanisms of exercise intervention on diseases. This review also aims to provide exercise intervention frameworks and optimal exercise dose recommendations for further human exercise intervention research

Dendritic molecular assemblies for singlet oxygen generation: meso-tetraphenylporphyrin-based biphotonic sensitizers with remarkable luminescence

International audienceFour new TPP-based chromophores (1-4) peripherally functionalized with dendrons contg. 2-fluorenyl groups were studied for their potential to serve in photodynamic therapy. Their linear and nonlinear optical properties were investigated. With significant TPA cross-sections at 790 nm, good singlet oxygen generation capabilities and relatively large intrinsic fluorescence, sensitizers such as 1 might become particularly appealing for theranostics

Structure-Based Investigation on the Binding and Activation of Typical Pesticides With Thyroid Receptor

A broad range of pesticides have been reported to interfere with the normal function of the thyroid endocrine system. However, the precise mechanism(s) of action has not yet been thoroughly elucidated. In this study, 21 pesticides were assessed for their binding interactions and the potential to disrupt thyroid homeostasis. In the GH3 luciferase reporter gene assays, 5 of the pesticides tested had agonistic effects in the order of procymidone &gt; imidacloprid &gt; mancozeb &gt; fluroxypyr &gt; atrazine. 11 pesticides inhibited luciferase activity of T3 to varying degrees, demonstrating their antagonistic activity. And there are 4 pesticides showed mixed effects when treated with different concentrations. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor technique was used to directly measure the binding interactions of these pesticides to the human thyroid hormone receptor (hTR). 13 pesticides were observed to bind directly with TR, with a KD ranging from 4.80E-08 M to 9.44E-07 M. The association and disassociation of the hTR/pesticide complex revealed 2 distinctive binding modes between the agonists and antagonists. At the same time, a different binding mode was displayed by the pesticides showed mix agonist and antagonist activity. In addition, the molecular docking simulation analyses indicated that the interaction energy calculated by CDOCKER for the agonists and antagonists correlated well with the KD values measured by the surface plasmon resonance assay. These results help to explain the differences of the TR activities of these tested pesticides.</p