Machine Learning Model Application and Comparison in Actuated Traffic Signal Forecasting.

Traffic signal forecasting plays a significant role in intelligent traffic systems since it can predict upcoming traffic signal without using traditional radio-based direct communication with infrastructures, which causes high risk in the communication security. Previously, mathematical and statistical approach has been adopted to predict fixed time traffic signals, but it is no longer suitable for modern traffic-actuated control systems, where signals are dependent on the dynamic requests from traffic flows. And as a large amount of data is available, machine learning methods attract more and more attention. This paper views signal forecasting as a time-series problem. Firstly, a large amount of real data is collected by detectors implemented at an intersection in Hanover via IoT communication among infrastructures. Then, Baseline Model, Dense Model, Linear Model, Convolutional Neural Network, and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) machine learning models are trained by one-day data and the results are compared. At last, LSTM is selected for a further training with one-month data producing a test accuracy over 95%, and the median of deviation is only 2 s. Moreover, LSTM is further evaluated as a binary classifier, generating a classification accuracy over 92% and AUC close to 1.

Human MxB Protein Is a Pan-herpesvirus Restriction Factor.

Herpesvirus infections are highly prevalent in the human population and persist for life. They are often acquired subclinically but potentially progress to life-threatening diseases in immunocompromised individuals. The interferon system is indispensable for the control of herpesviral replication. However, the responsible antiviral effector mechanisms are not well characterized. The type I interferon-induced, human myxovirus resistance 2 (MX2) gene product MxB, a dynamin-like large GTPase, has recently been identified as a potent inhibitor of HIV-1. We now show that MxB also interferes with an early step of herpesvirus replication, affecting alpha-, beta-, and gammaherpesviruses before or at the time of immediate early gene expression. Defined MxB mutants influencing GTP binding and hydrolysis revealed that the effector mechanism against herpesviruses is thoroughly different from that against HIV-1. Overall, our findings demonstrate that MxB serves as a broadly acting intracellular restriction factor that controls the establishment of not only retrovirus but also herpesvirus infection of all three subfamilies.IMPORTANCE Human herpesviruses pose a constant threat to human health. Reactivation of persisting herpesvirus infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals and the elderly, can cause severe diseases, such as zoster, pneumonia, encephalitis, or cancer. The interferon system is relevant for the control of herpesvirus replication as exemplified by fatal disease outcomes in patients with primary immunodeficiencies. Here, we describe the interferon-induced, human MX2 gene product MxB as an efficient restriction factor of alpha-, beta-, and gammaherpesviruses. MxB has previously been described as an inhibitor of HIV-1. Importantly, our mutational analyses of MxB reveal an antiviral mechanism of herpesvirus restriction distinct from that against HIV-1. Thus, the dynamin-like MxB GTPase serves as a broadly acting intracellular restriction factor that controls retrovirus as well as herpesvirus infections.

Optogenetics for gene expression in mammalian cells.

Molecular switches that are controlled by chemicals have evolved as central research instruments in mammalian cell biology. However, these tools are limited in terms of their spatiotemporal resolution due to freely diffusing inducers. These limitations have recently been addressed by the development of optogenetic, genetically encoded, and light-responsive tools that can be controlled with the unprecedented spatiotemporal precision of light. In this article, we first provide a brief overview of currently available optogenetic tools that have been designed to control diverse cellular processes. Then, we focus on recent developments in light-controlled gene expression technologies and provide the reader with a guideline for choosing the most suitable gene expression system.

[How well do parents and teachers' reports agree on behaviour problems in pre-school-aged children?]. / Wie gut stimmen Eltern und Erzieherinnen in der Beurteilung von Verhaltensproblemen bei Kindergartenkindern überein?

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study is to examine the extent of parental and teacher agreement on behaviour problems in preschool-aged children. METHOD: Families were recruited from preschools in Braunschweig. In total, N=310 children aged three to six years were evaluated by their mothers and fathers and by their preschool teachers using the Child Behavior Checklist and the Caregiver-Teacher Report for ages 1(1)/(2) to 5. RESULTS: The inter-parental agreement on behaviour problems was high. Parents consistently reported more problem behaviour than did preschool teachers. The median of intra-class correlation between the evaluations by the mothers with those by the fathers was 0.65, and 0.18 (0.17) for parent-teacher dyads. For the agreement between parents with respect to the borderline/clinical range a mean of kappa=0.41 was found, while there was no agreement between parents and teachers. CONCLUSIONS: The results are integrated into the literature, and implications, particularly those for clinical assessment procedures at preschool age, are discussed.

[Promotion of parental competence with triple P]. / Förderung der Elternkompetenz durch Triple P-Elterntrainings.

Parental competencies have great impact on child development. The concept of parental competency is a comprehensive construct, that involves functional and dysfunctional rearing behavior as well as evaluation of parental coping with challenging rearing situations and self-efficacy of rearing. Enhancing parental education is an important challenge on the background of high prevalence rates of child behavior problems. In the present randomised controlled study the effects of a Triple P parent training on parental competence was examined. 280 families were randomly assigned to a training of a control group. After pre-assessment, the training group participated in a Triple P parent training. 6 and 12 month after pre-assessment, post- and follow-up-1-year-assessments were conducted. Mothers in the training group showed significantly increased parental competencies compared to the control group. Especially overt functional and dysfunctional rearing behavior changed positively. Fathers showed no such change, but did often also not participate in the training. The study illustrates that parental competence can be promoted through Triple P.

[The prevalence of ADHD and attention problems in preschool-aged children. A comparison of two diagnostic instruments]. / Prävalenz hyperkinetischer Symptome und Störungen im Vorschulalter--ein Vergleich zweier Diagnoseinstrumente.

OBJECTIVES: In order to analyse the prevalence of ADHD and attention problems in preschool-aged children, mothers were asked to rate their children using two measuring instruments. METHODS: The analysis is part of a prospective, randomised control study of N = 280 children aged three to six years, whose mothers rated them using the Child Behaviour Checklist/CBCL 1 1/2-5 and the Parent Rating Scale for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). RESULTS: The prevalence rates ranged from 2.7% to 9.9%. There was no significant gender effect in this age group. CONCLUSIONS: The study delivers initial findings and provides support for decisions to implement in Germany new assessment methods for preschool-aged children with ADHD or hyperkinetic syndrome. Finally, the different rates of prevalence and the implications of the findings for epidemiology and the prevention of ADHD and attention problems among preschool-aged children are discussed.

Optogenetic control of signaling in mammalian cells.

Molecular signals are sensed by their respective receptors and information is transmitted and processed by a sophisticated intracellular network controlling various biological functions. Optogenetic tools allow the targeting of specific signaling nodes for a precise spatiotemporal control of downstream effects. These tools are based on photoreceptors such as phytochrome B (PhyB), cryptochrome 2, or light-oxygen-voltage-sensing domains that reversibly bind to specific interaction partners in a light-dependent manner. Fusions of a protein of interest to the photoreceptor or their interaction partners may enable the control of the protein function by light-mediated dimerization, a change of subcellular localization, or due to photocaging/-uncaging of effectors. In this review, we summarize the photoreceptors and the light-based mechanisms utilized for the modulation of signaling events in mammalian cells focusing on non-neuronal applications. We discuss in detail optogenetic tools and approaches applied to control signaling events mediated by second messengers, Rho GTPases and growth factor-triggered signaling cascades namely the RAS/RAF and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase pathways. Applying the latest generation of optogenetic tools allows to control cell fate decisions such as proliferation and differentiation or to deliver therapeutic substances in a spatiotemporally controlled manner.

Long-term outcome of a randomized controlled universal prevention trial through a positive parenting program: is it worth the effort?

BACKGROUND: Approximately 20% of children experience internalizing or externalizing DSM-IV-TR disorders. This prevalence rate cannot be reduced through treatment only. Effective preventive interventions are therefore urgently needed. The aim of the current investigation is to evaluate the two-year efficacy of the group Triple P parenting program administered universally for the prevention of child behavior problems. METHODS: Based on their respective preschool, N = 280 families were randomly assigned either to the parent training or to the control group. The efficacy was analyzed using multi-source assessments, including questionnaires by mother and father, behavioral observation of mother-child interaction, and teacher evaluations. RESULTS: At the 2-year follow-up, both parents in the Triple P intervention reported significant reductions in dysfunctional parenting behavior, and mothers also an increase in positive parenting behavior. In addition, mothers reported significant reductions in internalizing and externalizing child behavior. Single-parent mothers in the Triple P intervention did not report significant changes in parenting or child problem behavior which is primarily due to inexplicable high positive effects in single parent mothers of the control group. Neither mother-child interactions nor teacher ratings yielded significant results. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the long-term efficacy of the Triple P - group program as a universal prevention intervention for changing parenting behavior in two-parent households, but not necessarily in single-parent mothers.