Reinforcement Learning for Predicting Traffic Accidents

As the demand for autonomous driving increases, it is paramount to ensure safety. Early accident prediction using deep learning methods for driving safety has recently gained much attention. In this task, early accident prediction and a point prediction of where the drivers should look are determined, with the dashcam video as input. We propose to exploit the double actors and regularized critics (DARC) method, for the first time, on this accident forecasting platform. We derive inspiration from DARC since it is currently a state-of-the-art reinforcement learning (RL) model on continuous action space suitable for accident anticipation. Results show that by utilizing DARC, we can make predictions 5\% earlier on average while improving in multiple metrics of precision compared to existing methods. The results imply that using our RL-based problem formulation could significantly increase the safety of autonomous driving

Functional clustering methods for binary longitudinal data with temporal heterogeneity

In the analysis of binary longitudinal data, it is of interest to model a dynamic relationship between a response and covariates as a function of time, while also investigating similar patterns of time-dependent interactions. We present a novel generalized varying-coefficient model that accounts for within-subject variability and simultaneously clusters varying-coefficient functions, without restricting the number of clusters nor overfitting the data. In the analysis of a heterogeneous series of binary data, the model extracts population-level fixed effects, cluster-level varying effects, and subject-level random effects. Various simulation studies show the validity and utility of the proposed method to correctly specify cluster-specific varying-coefficients when the number of clusters is unknown. The proposed method is applied to a heterogeneous series of binary data in the German Socioeconomic Panel (GSOEP) study, where we identify three major clusters demonstrating the different varying effects of socioeconomic predictors as a function of age on the working status

Selective disruption of an oncogenic mutant allele by CRISPR/Cas9 induces efficient tumor regression

Approximately 15% of non-small cell lung cancer cases are associated with a mutation in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene, which plays a critical role in tumor progression. With the goal of treating mutated EGFR-mediated lung cancer, we demonstrate the use of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9) system to discriminate between the oncogenic mutant and wild-type EGFR alleles and eliminate the carcinogenic mutant EGFR allele with high accuracy. We targeted an EGFR oncogene harboring a single-nucleotide missense mutation (CTG > CGG) that generates a protospacer-adjacent motif sequence recognized by the CRISPR/Cas9 derived from Streptococcus pyogenes. Co-delivery of Cas9 and an EGFR mutation-specific single-guide RNA via adenovirus resulted in precise disruption at the oncogenic mutation site with high specificity. Furthermore, this CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutant allele disruption led to significantly enhanced cancer cell killing and reduced tumor size in a xenograft mouse model of human lung cancer. Taken together, these results indicate that targeting an oncogenic mutation using CRISPR/Cas9 offers a powerful surgical strategy to disrupt oncogenic mutations to treat cancers; similar strategies could be used to treat other mutation-associated diseases.

Long-term sac behavior after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with the Excluder low-permeability endoprosthesis

PurposeSac regression is a surrogate marker for clinical success in endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and has been shown to be device-specific. The low porosity Excluder endograft (Excluder low-permeability endoprosthesis [ELPE]; W. L. Gore & Associates Inc, Flagstaff, Ariz) introduced in 2004 was reported in early follow-up to be associated with sac regression rates similar to other endografts, unlike the original Excluder which suffered from sac growth secondary to fluid accumulation in the sac. The purpose of this study was to determine whether this behavior is durable in mid-term to long-term follow-up.MethodsBetween July 2004 and December 2007, 301 patients underwent EVAR of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with the ELPE at two institutions. Baseline sac size was measured by computed tomography (CT) scan at 1 month after repair. Follow-up beyond 1 year was either with a CT or ultrasound scan. Changes in sac size ≥5 mm from baseline were determined to be significant. Endoleak history was assessed with respect to sac behavior using χ2 and logistic regression analysis.ResultsTwo hundred sixteen patients (mean age 73.6 years and 76% men) had at least 1-year follow-up imaging available for analysis. Mean follow-up was 2.6 years (range, 1-5 years). The average minor-axis diameter was 52 mm at baseline. The proportion of patients with sac regression was similar during the study period: 58%, 66%, 60%, 59%, and 63% at 1 to 5 years, respectively. The proportion of patients with sac growth increased over time to 14.8% at 4-year follow-up. The probability of freedom from sac growth at 4 years was 82.4%. Eighty patients (37.7%) had an endoleak detected at some time during follow-up with 29.6% (16 of 54) residual endoleak rate at 4 years; 13 of the residual 16 endoleaks were type II. All patients with sac growth had endoleaks at some time during the study compared with only 18% of patients with sac regression (P < .0001).ConclusionA sustained sac regression after AAA exclusion with ELPE is noted up to 5-year follow-up. Sac enlargement was observed only in the setting of a current or previous endoleak, with no cases of suspected hygroma formation noted

Jurnal Arkeologi Siddhayatra Vol.23 No.2 tahun 2018

Seluruh artikel yang dimuat di dalam terbitan Volume 23 No. 2 bulan November tahun 2018 ini melingkupi kajian arkeologi prasejarah, kolonial, klasik, dan linguistik. Tulisan dari Muhammad Nofri Fahrozi memfokuskan pada temuan Rel di Sungailiat, artikel ini berusaha menghubungkan berbagai peristiwa masa lalu khususnya pada zaman kolonial Belanda. Dalam artikel ini disebutkan antara hubungan rel kereta dengan penambangan timah. Juga perlunya penelusuran ulang rel kereta api untuk upaya revitalisasi demi pariwisata. Seffiani Dwi Azmi dan Kristantina Indriastusti pada edisi kali ini membahas mengenai tipologi lesung batu di Kecamatan Pajar Bulan. Hasil yang diperoleh adalah terdapat 3 tipe lesung batu yaitu lesung Oval Circuit (A1), persegi panjang dengan sudut lancip (B1), Tipe Oval Easimove (A2). Lesung batu di Kecamatan Pajar Bulan mempunyai ciri khas masing-masing baik dari bentuk ataupun relief. Masyarakat prasejarah pasemah adalah masyarakat yang mempunyai pengetahuan dan nilai estetika yang tinggi dilihat dari berbagai jenis tinggalan megalitik yang beragam, serta taat dalam hal religi. Artikel Muhammad Riyad Nes pada edisi ini mengenai instalasi militer tinggalan Jepang di Palembang. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa instalasi militer di Kota Palembang memiliki beberapa bentuk, yaitu bentuk tidak beraturan, bentuk huruf U, persegi panjang, segi empat dan lingkaran/melingkar. Adapun fungsi dari instalasi militer tersebut adalah untuk mempertahankan wilayah tambang minyak di Kota Palembang dan sebagai basis pertahanan serta tempat untuk mengintai musuh. Artikel Taeyoung Cho membahas mengenai tamadun Islam dan tulisan Arab. Disebutkan juga bahwa kedatangan Islam ke Nusantara tidak hanya menyebar agama, tetapi juga memengaruhi perubahan sistem sosial di mana tulisan Arab menulis berbagai bidang tamadun Islam dan menyampaikannya ke masyarakat lokal. Kemunculan huruf varian dalam varian-varian tulisan Arab (Jawi, Pégon, Sérang, dan Buri Wolio) adalah sebuah hasil dari penyusuaian tulisan Arab dengan bahasa-bahasa lokal untuk mengantar unsur-unsur tamadun Islam ke dalam konteks masyarakat lokal Artikel Surini Widyawati dan Sondang Martini Siregar menjadi artikel terakhir dalam edisi ini. Tulisan tersebut mengenai hubungan pendirian bangunan Candi Tingkip dengan sumberdaya alam di daerah Musi. Hasil penelitan menunjukkan bahwa Musi Rawas memiliki potensi alam yang cocok sebagai tempat didirikannya bangunan suci, karena memiliki jenis tanah yang kandungan organiknya cocok dipakai untuk bertanam, selain itu juga dikelilingi oleh Sungai dan anak sungai, dan vegetasi yanga ada di sekitanya berupa tanaman pertanian dan perkebunan. Potensi sumber daya alam Musi Rawas mempengaruhi didirikannya Candi Tingkip

CRISPR RNAs trigger innate immune responses in human cells

Here, we report that CRISPR guide RNAs (gRNAs) with a 5'-triphosphate group (5'-ppp gRNAs) produced via in vitro transcription trigger RNA-sensing innate immune responses in human and murine cells, leading to cytotoxicity. 5'-ppp gRNAs in the cytosol are recognized by DDX58, which in turn activates type I interferon responses, causing up to similar to 80% cell death. We show that the triphosphate group can be removed by a phosphatase in vitro and that the resulting St-hydroxyl gRNAs in complex with Cas9 or Cpfl avoid innate immune responses and can achieve targeted mutagenesis at a frequency of 95% in primary human CD4(+) T cells. These results are in line with previous findings that chemically synthesized sgRNAs with a 5'-hydroxyl group are much more efficient than in vitro-transcribed (IVT) sgRNAs in human and other mammalian cells. The phosphatase treatment of IVT sgRNAs is a cost-effective method for making highly active sgRNAs, avoiding innate immune responses in human cells.

In vivo genome editing with a small Cas9 orthologue derived from Campylobacter jejuni

Several CRISPR-Cas9 orthologues have been used for genome editing. Here, we present the smallest Cas9 orthologue characterized to date, derived from Campylobacter jejuni (CjCas9), for efficient genome editing in vivo. After determining protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM) sequences and optimizing single-guide RNA (sgRNA) length, we package the CjCas9 gene, its sgRNA sequence, and a marker gene in an all-in-one adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector and produce the resulting virus at a high titer. CjCas9 is highly specific, cleaving only a limited number of sites in the human or mouse genome. CjCas9, delivered via AAV, induces targeted mutations at high frequencies in mouse muscle cells or retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Furthermore, CjCas9 targeted to the Vegfa or Hif1a gene in RPE cells reduces the size of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization, suggesting that in vivo genome editing with CjCas9 is a new option for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration.

Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): From basic to advanced approaches

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), through their complex cargo, can reflect the state of their cell of origin and change the functions and phenotypes of other cells. These features indicate strong biomarker and therapeutic potential and have generated broad interest, as evidenced by the steady year-on-year increase in the numbers of scientific publications about EVs. Important advances have been made in EV metrology and in understanding and applying EV biology. However, hurdles remain to realising the potential of EVs in domains ranging from basic biology to clinical applications due to challenges in EV nomenclature, separation from non-vesicular extracellular particles, characterisation and functional studies. To address the challenges and opportunities in this rapidly evolving field, the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) updates its 'Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles', which was first published in 2014 and then in 2018 as MISEV2014 and MISEV2018, respectively. The goal of the current document, MISEV2023, is to provide researchers with an updated snapshot of available approaches and their advantages and limitations for production, separation and characterisation of EVs from multiple sources, including cell culture, body fluids and solid tissues. In addition to presenting the latest state of the art in basic principles of EV research, this document also covers advanced techniques and approaches that are currently expanding the boundaries of the field. MISEV2023 also includes new sections on EV release and uptake and a brief discussion of in vivo approaches to study EVs. Compiling feedback from ISEV expert task forces and more than 1000 researchers, this document conveys the current state of EV research to facilitate robust scientific discoveries and move the field forward even more rapidly

TULISAN ARAB: PEMBINA TAMADUN ISLAM DI NUSANTARA

This paper describes the role of Arabic script on a view of establishing Islamic civilizationin Indonesian archipelago. Arabic script, apart from a tool for writing, its characteristicis so intensive to symbolize Islamic civilization. The arrival of Islamic civilization intothe archipelago has not only spread the religion, but also influenced the change of socialsystem in which Arabic script wrote the various spheres of Islamic civilization and transferredthem into the local communities. The appearance of variant graphemes into the Arabic-based local scripts (Jawi, Pgon, Srang, and Buri Wolio) is a result from the modificationof Arabic script to the local languages for transmitting the elements of Islamic civilizationto the contexts of local communities. In other words, Arabic script shifted Indonesianarchipelago from the age of Jahiliah to the age of Islamic civilization