Identification of activity stop locations in GPS trajectories by density-based clustering method combined with support vector machines

The identification of activity locations in con- tinuous GPS trajectories is an essential preliminary step in obtaining person trip data and for activity-based trans- portation demand forecasting. In this research, a two-step methodology for identifying activity stop locations is pro- posed. In the first step, an improved density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise （DBSCAN） algorithm identifies stop points and moving points; then in the second step, the support vector machines （SVMs） method distin- guishes activity stops from non-activity stops among the identified stop points. A time sequence constraint and a direction change constraint are applied as improvements to DBSCAN （yielding an improved algorithm known as C-DBSCAN）. Then three major features are extracted for use in the SVMs method： stop duration, mean distance to the centroid of a cluster of points at a stop location, and the shorter of distances from current location to home and to the workplace. The proposed methodology was tested using GPS data collected from mobile phones in the Nagoya area of Japan. The C-DBSCAN algorithm achieves an accuracy of 90 % in identifying stop points in the first step, while the SVMs method is 96 % accurate in distin- guishing the locations of activity stops from non-activity stops in the second step. Compared to other variants of DBSCAN used to identify activity locations from GPS trajectories, this two-step method is generally superior.

A comparative study of automotive trip characteristics between older drivers and others among densely inhabited district and other areas

This paper examines older driver＇s automotive trip （abbreviation： trip） characteristics which include trip frequency, trip length, destination distribution, and non- home-based （NHB） trips. A two-month experiment of 108 participants was carried out to collect GPS tracking data in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. To identify the effect of living area, a comparative analysis between older drivers and others is conducted in densely inhabited district （DID, i.e., urban） and other areas （non-DID, i.e., suburban, rural, etc）, separately. The present study found that there was no sig- nificant difference between the trip characteristics of older drivers and others who were living in DID. Thus, we suggest that the education of safety driving and the rec- ommendation of public transportation should be given to DID-living older drivers. However, the results of non-DID reflected that older drivers＇ trip frequency, trip length, destination, and NHB trips rate were shorter and lower than others＇. This implies that electric vehicles may be suit- able for promotion among older drivers in suburban and rural area. Furthermore, the regression analysis confirmed that ＂older driver＂ was a significant independent variable on trip frequency, trip length, and NHB trips, and there were interaction effects between ＂older driver＂ and ＂living areas＂ on all trip characteristics.

Fiber-fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses as a diagnostic application for orientation of microduplications

Microduplications are normally invisible under microscopy and were not recognized before chromosomal microarray testing was available. Although it is difficult to confirm the orientation of duplicated segments by standard fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH), our data indicates that fiber-FISH analysis has the potential to reveal the orientation of duplicated and triplicated segments of chromosomes. Recurrent microduplications reciprocal to microdeletions show tandem orientations of the duplicated segments, which is consistent with a non-allelic homologous recombination mechanism. Several random duplications showed tandem configurations and inverted duplications are rare. Further analysis is required to fully elucidate the basic mechanisms underlying such duplications/triplications.

Impact of Electric Vehicles on Travel and Electricity Demand in Metropolitan Area： A Case Study in Nagoya

In this study, we examine the impacts that EVs （electric vehicles） have on vehicle usage patterns and environmental improvements, using our integrated travel demand forecasting model, which can simulate an individual activity-travel behavior in each time period, as well as consider an induced demand by decreasing travel cost. In order to examine the effects that charging/discharging have on the demand in electricity, we analyze scenarios based on the simulation results of the EVs＇ parking location, parking duration and the battery state of charge. From the simulation, result under the ownership rate of EVs in the Nagoya metropolitan area in 2020 is about 6%, which turns out that the total CO2 emissions have decreased by 4% although the situation of urban transport is not changed. After calculating the electricity demand in each zone using architectural area and basic units of hourly power consumption, we evaluate the effect to decrease the peak load by V2G （vehicle-to-grid）. According to the results, if EV drivers charge at home during the night and discharge at work during the day, the electricity demand in Nagoya city increases by approximately 1%, although changes in each individual zone range from -7% to ＋8%, depending on its characteristics.

Pyoderma gangrenosum:An important dermatologic condition occasionally associated with rheumatic diseases

Pyoderma gangrenosum(PG) presents with refractory,sterile,deep ulcers most often on the lower legs.Clinically,PG exhibits four types,i.e.,ulcerative,bullous,pustular,and vegetative types.PG may be triggered by surgical operation or even by minor iatrogenic procedures such as needle prick or catheter insertion,which is wellknown as pathergy.PG is sometimes seen in association with several systemic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis(RA),inflammatory bowel disease,hematologic malignancy,and Takayasu's arteritis.In particular,various cutaneous manifestations are induced in association with RA by virtue of the activation of inflammatory cells(neutrophils,lymphocytes,macrophages),vasculopathy,vasculitis,drugs,and so on.Clinical appearances of ulcerative PG mimic rheumatoid vasculitis or leg ulcers due to impaired circulation in patients with RA.In addition,patients with PG sometimes develop joint manifestations as well.Therefore,it is necessary for not only dermatologists but also rheumatologists to understand PG.

Study of older male drivers’driving stress compared with that of young male drivers

In this study,older male drivers’stress while driving in straight links and while proceeding through intersections is investigated.Controller area network(CAN),self-reported stress(SRS),and physiological data was collected in 22.4 km-long experimental trips among older and young drivers.First,this study finds that older drivers reported much less stress than young drivers.However,principal components(PCs)of the physiological data demonstrate that older drivers might underrate their driving stress in entire trips,except regarding turning at intersections.Moreover,following other vehicles reduced older drivers’driving stress because preceding vehicles might help them control driving speed,detect the path,and prevent road risks.In contrast,the similar condition increased the stress level of young drivers.The results of random effects regression models confirm that age was the significant impact factor on SRS and physiological data.While examining whether the stress at intersections could affect their driving behaviors,significant difference between two age groups was found neither in turning time nor in the driving speed.This study also confirms that physical and mental changes with aging can negatively affect older adults’behaviors.Considering the relationships among stress,speed,and accidents,we suggest the provision of more driver assistance systems,training,and education and improving intersection design for older drivers.

An analysis on older driver＇s driving behavior by GPS tracking data： Road selection, left/right turn, and driving speed

With the high older-related accident ratio and increasing population aging problem, understanding older drivers＇ driving behaviors has become more and more important for building and improving transportation system. This paper examines older driver＇s driving behavior which includes road selection, left/right turn and driving speed. A two-month experiment of 108 participants was carried out in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Since apparently contradictory statements were often drawn in survey-based or simulators-based studies, this study collected not only drivers＇ basic information but also GPS data. Analysis of road selection demonstrates that older drivers are reluctant to drive on expressway not only in short trips but also in long trips. The present study did not find significant difference be- tween older drivers and others while turning at the intersections. To investigate the impact factors on driving speed, a random-effects regression model is constructed with explan- atory variables including age, gender, road types and the interaction terms between age and road types. Compared with other variables, it fails to find that age （60 years old or over） has significant impact on driving speed. Moreover, the results reflect that older drivers drive even faster than others at particular road types： national road and ordinary municipal road. The results in this study are expected to help improve transportation planning and develop driving assistance systems for older drivers.

Prenatal diagnosis of Werdnig-Hoffmann disease in China

Objective To establish a means for prenatal prediction of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) through survival motor neuron (SMN) gene deletion analysis and genetic counseling in families with a child affected with SMA. Methods Genetic analysis for prenatal prediction of Werdnig-Hoffmann disease was performed in a at risk Chinese family by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) in SMN gene exons 7 and 8.Results The pregnancy was positive for the homozygous deletion of the SMN gene, thus the fetus was diagnosed as being affected and the pregnancy was terminated.Conclusion This approach is fast and reliable for DNA-based prenatal diagnosis of Werdnig-Hoffmann disease.