Vision-Based Incoming Traffic Estimator Using Deep Neural Network on General Purpose Embedded Hardware

Traffic management is a serious problem in many cities around the world. Even the suburban areas are now experiencing regular traffic congestion. Inappropriate traffic control wastes fuel, time, and the productivity of nations. Though traffic signals are used to improve traffic flow, they often cause problems due to inappropriate or obsolete timing that does not tally with the actual traffic intensity at the intersection. Traffic intensity determination based on statistical methods only gives the average intensity expected at any given time. However, to control traffic accurately, it is required to know the real-time traffic intensity. In this research, image processing and machine learning have been used to estimate actual traffic intensity in real time. General-purpose electronic hardware has been used for in-situ image processing based on the edge-detection method. A deep neural network (DNN) was trained to infer traffic intensity in each image in real time. The trained DNN estimated traffic intensity accurately in 90% of the real-time images during road tests. The electronic system was implemented on a Raspberry Pi single-board computer; hence, it is cost-effective for large-scale deployment.Comment: 6 pages, 11 figures, journa

Impact of Destination Attributes on Tourists Destination Selection: With Special Reference to Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the world. Amongst tourists’attractions, “Cultural Triangle”, a region of the cultural heritage of the country has becomethe highest income generating destination. However, when compared with the othertourists’ destinations of the country, the number of tourists visiting the cultural triangle islow. As the literature reveals, the attributes of the destination matter in destinationselection by the international tourists. Thus, considering the importance of this region asthe top income contributor but not in terms of the number of tourists' visits, this studyproblematizes the impacts of destination attributes on tourist`s destination selection.Accordingly, the objective of this study is to identify the destination attributes and theirrelationship with the tourists’ destination selection decisions. Data was collected throughquestionnaires from a sample of 222 foreign tourists who visited the cultural triangleduring 2019 through a selected travel agent. Results of the multiple regression analysisrevealed that attributes of Amenities, Destination Attractions, Accessibility, AncillaryServices, and Destination Environment as having a moderate positive relationship whilst,the service quality weak positive relationship with Tourist’s Destination selection.Destination attraction was identified as the most influential factor of all attributes. Thefindings of this study can be used by policymakers in developing destinations for tourists’attractions in the country

Blockchain and SDN Architecture for Spectrum Management in Cellular Networks

Whereas 4G LTE networks have brought about an increase in data rates of mobile networks, they are unable to meet the capacity demands of future networks. Specifically, the centralized nature of the evolved packet core (EPC) makes the network non-scalable to match the exponential increase in number of wireless devices in addition to the complexities of diverse service requirements. The SDN concept has recently attracted a lot of research interest as a viable proposition for bringing about programmability and ease of network management while also offering flexibility for innovative network designs. However, current SDN implementations are not adapted to support business agreements that foster interoperability among mobile network operators (MNOs). This paper is an extended version of our earlier work and we intend to present a unified SDN and blockchain architecture with enhanced spectrum management features for enabling seamless user roaming capabilities between MNOs. Our simulation results show that users can experience no disruption in service with very minimal delay as they traverse between operators

A holistic approach to dissecting SPARC family protein complexity reveals FSTL-1 as an inhibitor of pancreatic cancer cell growth.

SPARC is a matricellular protein that is involved in both pancreatic cancer and diabetes. It belongs to a wider family of proteins that share structural and functional similarities. Relatively little is known about this extended family, but evidence of regulatory interactions suggests the importance of a holistic approach to their study. We show that Hevin, SPOCKs, and SMOCs are strongly expressed within islets, ducts, and blood vessels, suggesting important roles for these proteins in the normal pancreas, while FSTL-1 expression is localised to the stromal compartment reminiscent of SPARC. In direct contrast to SPARC, however, FSTL-1 expression is reduced in pancreatic cancer. Consistent with this, FSTL-1 inhibited pancreatic cancer cell proliferation. The complexity of SPARC family proteins is further revealed by the detection of multiple cell-type specific isoforms that arise due to a combination of post-translational modification and alternative splicing. Identification of splice variants lacking a signal peptide suggests the existence of novel intracellular isoforms. This study underlines the importance of addressing the complexity of the SPARC family and provides a new framework to explain their controversial and contradictory effects. We also demonstrate for the first time that FSTL-1 suppresses pancreatic cancer cell growth

Straw bonded solid panels – the constructability, thermal performance and structural behaviour

Straw bonded solid panels manufactured as boards with a thickness of 58 mm can be used for many applications such as internal partitions, floor boards, acoustic panels, ceiling, etc. However, there have been many issues related to the use of straw panels as a load bearing material for walls. This paper describes the details and results of a full scale load test carried out with straw bonded solid panels to assess the constructability, structural adequacy with short term loads and sustained loads. It also indicates the trends that can be expected with thermal performance

Blood Sugar Lowering Effect of Coccinia grandis (L.) J. Voigt: Path for a New Drug for Diabetes Mellitus

Background. Role of herbs in the management and control of diabetes has emerged fast over the years. We assessed the efficacy of Coccinia grandis (locally known as Ken, Kovakka) leaves as a hypoglycemic agent. Methods. Double-blind phase I clinical trial was conducted at the general hospital and a private hospital in Matara in August 2009. All the participants were given a common meal for dinner, and they maintained a 10-hour fasting period. Sixty-one healthy volunteers were given a meal containing 20 g of leaves of Coccinia grandis which was mixed with a measured amount of scraped coconut and table salt for breakfast, and other 61 were given the placebo meal which also contained scraped coconut and salt. Glucose tolerance test was performed blindly for the two groups. Mixed factorial design analysis of variance and student's t-test were applied. Results. Overall blood sugar levels of the experimental group were also significantly lower than those of the control group (F(1,117) 5.56, P < 0.05). Increase in the blood sugar levels from fasting to one hour (F(1,117) 6.77, P < 0.05) and two hours (F(1,117) 5.28, P < 0.05) postprandially was statistically significant for participants who were in the control group than those of in the experimental group. The mean difference of postprandial blood sugar levels (mg/dL) after one hour (20.2, 95% confidence interval, 4.81 to 35.5) and two hours (11.46, 95% confidence interval; 1.03 to 21.9) was statistically significant between the two groups. Conclusions. Coccinia grandis has a blood sugar lowering effect. However further studies are needed to validate our findings

Lithium chloride selective ion-pair recognition by heteroditopic [2]rotaxanes †

The first heteroditopic [2]rotaxane host systems capable of strong and selective binding of lithium chloride ion-pair species are described. Importantly, a cooperative ‘switch on’ mechanism was found to operate, in which complexation of a lithium metal cation enhances the halide anion affinity of the rotaxanes via a combination of favourable proximal electrostatic and preorganised allosteric effects. The mechanically bonded rotaxane host design features a macrocycle component possessing a 2,6-dialkoxy pyridyl cation binding motif and an isophthalamide anion binding group, as well as an axle component functionalised with either a halogen bonding (XB) iodotriazole or hydrogen bonding (HB) prototriazole moiety. Extensive quantitative 1H NMR titration studies in CD3CN/CDCl3 solvent mixtures determined enhanced ion-pair binding affinities for lithium halides over the corresponding sodium or potassium halide salts, with the axle prototriazole-containing HB rotaxane in particular demonstrating a marked selectivity for lithium chloride. Solid-state X-ray crystallographic studies and computational DFT investigations provide evidence for a [2]rotaxane host axle-separated ion-pair binding mode, in which complementary cation and anion binding motifs from both the macrocycle and axle components act convergently to recognise each of the charged guest species

PROCEDURE TO ALLOCATE UNITS IN A CONDOMINIUM IN AN URBAN RESETTLEMENT PROJECT: A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH

Many public and private sector projects provoke forced relocation of the population but fail to resettle people sustainably and thus to trigger their impoverishment. Studies also found that one root cause of such failures and impoverishment is the disposal of properties and the lack of financial support for relocation. Make a systematical way of allocating housing units in a condominium in resettlement projects using a scientific and analytical model of payment of compensation is the primary purpose of this article. The independent variables which affect to the market value of the existing lands, especially in Nawama Mawatha and Wekanda Road in Colombo 2 area, are considered, distance from the main road (accessibility), the shape of the land (regular or irregular) and availability of infrastructure and sanitary facilities (utilities). After collecting the market variables then weighted all these independent variables to run the multiple regression analysis to get the results of the study. The results of the study showed that the significant effect comes to the market value of the land is from the distance from the main road (accessibility) as it has the strong negative correlation with the market value

Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 gene expression positivity determined by silver in situ hybridization/immunohistochemistry methods and associated factors in a cohort of Sri Lankan patients with gastric adenocarcinoma : a prospective study

Objective: Positive human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) expression and its predictive clinicopathological features remain unclear in Sri Lankan gastric cancer (GC) patients. Here, we aimed to determine GC HER2 status predictors by analyzing associations between clinicopathological features and HER2 expression using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and silver in situ hybridization (SISH). Methods: During this 4-year prospective study, clinicopathological data were collected from participants in the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. HER2 IHC and SISH were performed using commercial reagents. Using chi-square tests, associations of HER2-IHC/SISH with clinicopathological features were analyzed. Results: Overall, 145 GC patients were included, 69 had gastrectomies and 76 had biopsies. Positive HER2 expression by IHC was associated with age 5/high-power field, with additional perineural invasion and lymphovascular invasion in resections. These features, excluding lymphovascular invasion but including male sex, were associated with HER2 expression by SISH. Conclusions: Age <60 years, high nuclear grade, tumor necrosis, and perineural invasion are associated factors of HER2 status. These could be used to triage GC patients for HER2 status testing in limited resource settings where IHC/SISH analysis is costly

Assessment on timber and carbon in rubber plantations with special reference to the wet zone of Sri Lanka

Rubber (Hevea brasilensiss has traditionally been cultivated for the latex extraction; however, itsimportance in other uses, particularly producing quality timber and sequestering atmospheric carbonas a permanent sink, is also often highlighted. The amount of timber produced and carbon sequesteredin rubber trees has been assessed in isolations. Those values would differ under different growthconditions and to date, no simple protocol is available to quantify the amount of timber and carbon inrubber plantations. Therefore, the study reported here was aimed to develop simple growth models toassess the timber production and carbon fixing capability of rubber plantations in Sri Lanka.Initially, a growth function was developed to assess the girth development with respect to age andthereafter another three functions to quantify the amount of timber, biomass and carbon in the rubbertree based on girth diameter. Also, wood density variation with age of the tree was modeled todetermine the biomass in timber under different age categories. The assessment on the availablecarbon was based on the carbon content in unit biomass and the total amount of biomass in the tree.Growth data required for the girth development function were gathered from secondary sources andgirth measurements made on existing rubber clearings. Destructive sampling was conducted to assessthe timber, biomass and wood density.Based on above models, an average rubber tree at 30 years achieves a girth of 88.64 ern and produces0.656 m' of timber and 594.46 kg of biomass. The amount of atmospheric carbon fixed in timber atthis age was estimated as 193.7 kg per tree and 45.86 MT per hectare. However, total amount oforganic carbon fixed in above ground components was 220.8 kg per tree and 52.27 MT per hectare.The models of this study were developed under general conditions in the wet zone, hence should bevalidated for drier regions of the country before any wide scale adoption.