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Autonomous Inertial Based Vehicle Navigation Assisted by Convolutional Neural Network for Obstacle Avoidance
Full text linkViable, Healthy and Safe CommunitiesAutonomous vehicles are expected to aid a safe, convenient and easier driving experience. There is a huge demand for a cost effective, accurate, stable, and precise navigation system for autonomous vehicles. Inertial navigation systems combined with visual camera-based guidance are showing great promise with stable and intelligent autonomy. GPS based navigation alone is not enough to provide pin-point accuracy and needs a direct line of sight with the satellite. In contrast, inertial navigation works anywhere anytime. The focus for this research is to deploy an autonomous vehicle navigation system designed with sensor fusion technology that is supported by an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and smart camera. The proposed navigation system has an embedded IMU and camera to generate a complete assistive map of the surrounds with relative positions in any environment. The mapping of the surroundings works by performing a sensor data fusion from the camera, position data from IMU, as well as a heat graph, indicating if obstacles are close based on colour intensity. However, inertial sensor drift can degrade the sensor fusion and obstacle map due to error in position and distance of obstacles detected. To mitigate this sensor drift error, sensor fusion between the IMU and smart camera is processed to obtain an accurate environment. This sensor fusion incorporates artificial intelligence through a deep convolutional neural network (CNN). In general, convolutional neural networks are modelled after the human brain to train the vehicle to identify obstacles of interests in any environment. The smart camera mounted on the vehicle feeds real-time video footage for inference with the trained CNN and is used for real-time obstacle avoidance. This research is work-in-progress to correct sensor drift in the embedded IMU using a trained CNN to create a fully autonomous navigation system providing more autonomy towards achieving reliable assistive navigation
Can Dandelion Root Extract be used to bypass the occurrence of resistance in human lymphoma cells?
No full textRecent statistics show a growing mortality rate from cancer with an estimate of 80,000 deaths in Canada this year. For many years, researchers have been searching for non-toxic treatment options against cancer, as traditional chemo-therapies are riddled with numerous side effects. Although natural extracts have been used for centuries in prevention and suppression of many cancers, scientific evidence and clinical validation is limited. Based on the high demand for safer and effective treatment options, our lab is investigating the effects of natural extracts in selectively inducing programmed cell death in different cancerous tissues. The recent success seen with Dandelion Root Extract (DRE), a natural health product, in selectively targeting cancerous cells, led the study to phase I clinical trials. As many cancers are able to develop resistance from traditional treatment methods, our project is now investigating whether DRE can bypass the occurrence of resistance in human lymphoma cells. We are specifically studying the efficacy of DRE in human Non Hodgkin and Hodgkin Lymphoma cells. Initial screenings through WST-1 metabolic assays indicate that DRE reduces the metabolic viability of both lymphoma cell lines, U-937 and HD-MYZ, in a dose and time-dependent. Future studies will use Trypan blue exclusion assays along with fluorescent microscopy to assess the effect of DRE on proliferation of the cells. These methods will then be used in a revival and resistant experiment, to determine the effect of these extracts on the development of chemo-resistance and any downstream mechanism of action halting the development of resistance in the cell models (in-vitro and in-vivo). Results from this project will enhance our understanding of chemo-resistance in cancer cells and will be instrumental in developing ways to target this process in aggressive and resistant cancers. Overall, these findings could yield a way to promote better quality of life in lymphoma patients
Session 4: Co-Sheltering Nonhuman Companion Animals in Women's Emergency Shelters in Ontario, Canada: From Model to Policy and Practice
No full textPolicyCo-sheltering; human-nonhuman animal relations; intimate partner violence; famil
Resorcinarenes: Basket shaped artificial receptors. Cavitands Part 1
No full textResorcinarenes: Basket shaped artificial receptors. Cavitands Part 1 Maria Teodora Secara, Daniel Meister, Michael Reynolds, N. Kodiah Beyeh, John F. Trant Resorcinarenes are basket-shaped molecules that can host small organic or inorganic molecules; these types of molecules that can host other molecules as guests, are called cavitands. This presentation is part of a two part series on cavitands from our group, the second of which focuses on pillararenes. Their functionality can be tuned to achieve high binding affinities for specific substrates which makes them good candidates for the creation of molecular sensors. Because the cavity is hydrophobic, it can be useful for binding many molecules of interest in water. Our group has been involved recently in the synthesis of unusual resorcinarenes incorporating halogens to allow for the binding of new guests. We have also been designing these baskets to bind charged molecules. This is particularly challenging as charged molecules tend to be very soluble in water. However, through careful design of the resorcinarene, we were able to develop one that binds pyrophosphate, excess levels of which are an indicator of disease, very selectively in water. This is one of the first known examples of a cavitand that does not need a metal to very tightly bind an anion in water. Our work in this field has been focused on developing new ways to make these compounds, better understanding how they bind together both in solution and in solid state, and a computational analysis of the interactions that drive the binding. The presentation will discuss the background of these materials, some of the syntheses and properties of these compounds, and a perspective on their potential applications in biomedicine and materials science
Policy Reform Advocacy for the Healthcare Rights of Critically Ill International Agricultural Workers
No full textInternational agricultural workers (IAWs) are vital to Canada's agricultural sector and economy, yet their healthcare rights remain precarious. Despite contributing to health insurance during their employment, many IAWs lose access to healthcare when they become critically ill due to systemic barriers. The problem lies in the lack of clarity over jurisdiction: IAWs are brought in through a federal program, but healthcare delivery falls under provincial authority. This gap underscores an urgent need for policy reform to guarantee continuity of healthcare access for IAWs. Our project advocates for a policy that provides critically ill IAWs access to their insurance. Using the EPIC method, we contacted eight government officials, engaging six in meaningful discussions, with one committing to support our proposed policy. These involved officials whose party was familiar with our agenda but also those who were not. We presented our proposal that indicated how providing healthcare would not financially strain Canada's healthcare system. Furthermore, ensuring healthcare access for IAWs aligns with Canada's core values of equity and compassion. These efforts were supported by collaborations with community leaders to gain insights into the lived experiences of IAWs and to broaden our support network. Due to the nature of advocacy, this process remains ongoing until the goal of policy change has been achieved. This work underscores the importance of structured, empathetic advocacy in addressing systemic inequities. By combining targeted outreach to policymakers with community-driven insights, our research presents a replicable model for achieving impactful and sustainable policy change in support of vulnerable populations
Uniformity test based on the empirical Bernstein distribution
Full text linkIn this paper, we firstly review the origin of Bernstein polynomial and the various application of it. Then we review the importance of goodness-of-fit test, especially the uniformity test, and we examine lots of different test statistics proposed by far. After that we suggest two new statistics for testing the uniformity. These two statistics are based on Komogorov-Smirnov test type and Cramér-Von Mises test type, respectively. Also we embed Bernstein polynomial into those test type and take advantage of great approximation performance of this polynomial. Finally, we run a Monte-Carlo simulation to compare the performance of our statistics to those without embedding the Bernstein polynomials. We compare their performance in term of powers and inefficiencies. We found that by choosing suitable value for parameter, our statistics can perform better than the original form in most of the cases. The suggestion of choosing optimal value will be given
The Paradox of Imprecision: Wittgenstein, Quine, and the Limits of Exactness in Language
Full text linkThe Paradox of Imprecision in Language
Abstract
This paper investigates philosophical questions bearing on the relationship between language and mind, through an analysis of the phenomenon of “efficient imprecision” in language. It is argued that language users’ ability to intuitively connect allegedly imprecise linguistic expressions with definite conceptual information presents a paradox that might lead philosophers, linguists and cognitive scientists alike to reconsider the relationship between the computational machinery of human language and its function as the vehicle of conscious thought.
Like the puzzle about the identity relation which Gottlob Frege presents in the seminal Sense and Reference (1892), which Frege is careful to frame, not in terms of the semantics of his logical language, but in terms of the “cognitive value” of the statements under discussion, the paradox of imprecision in language is not really about language itself, but about the intuitions of language users, and is therefore a philosophical problem. Obviously, an expression of natural language is either well-formed or not, and, considered in itself, can only be alleged to be imprecise relative to its own semantics, i.e. not well-formed, since the semantics of a language is internal to the language, able to be formalized entirely in linguistic terms. Therefore, the analysis focuses on cases of syntactic deviance and semantic ambiguity in which the imprecision is in principle not soluble by the language user by reference to the recursive rules of his language. If he acquires the correct cognitive content from the expression, then on what grounds is the expression alleged to be imprecise? And if the expression is not in fact imprecise, then how does the language user get the intuition that it is?
Examples of the phenomenon of efficient imprecision are drawn from ordinary colloquial speech and also from slang expressions, whose function and development this analysis may help to explain. After analyzing this apparent paradox, the paper concludes by briefly sketching some possible consequences bearing on broader philosophical topics of questions raised in the course of the analysis; in particular, that the process of acquiring information from such expressions, with which our everyday language is filled, may in fact be the central activity involved in Wittgenstein’s concept of the language-game, and that the tacit and widespread assumption among philosophers of language that human language is either a high-resolution inner “picture of the world” or a meaningless “game” is likely a fundamental fallacy
Rapid Review of Significant Findings from Safer Opioid Supply Programs
No full text['UNSDG 3: Good Health and Well-being (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal3)', 'UNSDG 10: Reduced Inequalities (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal10)', 'UNSDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal11)']Viable, Healthy and Safe CommunitiesBetween January 2016 and June 2022, there were 32,632 apparent opioid-related deaths, and 33,493 hospitalizations for opioid-related overdoses (Public Health Canada, 2022). Safer supply has been advanced by communities of people who use drugs (PWUD), Primary care physicians and social workers to offset the risk of overdose from Canada's toxic drug supply. This review looks at agencies that are working with Risk Mitigation Guidance (British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 2020) or providing safer supply programs and are publishing quantitative data.The data from these harm reduction programs show promising results in decreasing the rates of deaths from opioid overdoses and providing wrap-around care to individuals with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)
Confusion Reigns: Social Media Content Analysis of the Responses to US Soccer Age Cut off Date Policy Change
No full textThe relative age effect (RAE) is a developmental advantage experienced by those born in the early months of the year following a pre-determined cut-off date compared to their relatively younger peers (Barnsley, Thompson, & Barnsley, 1985). In 2016, the US Soccer Federation announced that it was changing its youth soccer cut off date from August 1st to January 1st in order to combat the RAE. This decision has been a hotly debated topic among parents, coaches, administrators, and other stakeholders on various social media platforms. As a result, the purpose of this study was to understand US Soccer's rationale for changing the cut-off date, how information about the change was communicated, and the overall perception of this change from different stakeholder groups. Qualitative data were collected from a total of 63 social media sites, including websites (n = 43), forums (n = 16), and blogs (n = 4). From the 3,851 pages of text that were derived from these sources, 308 quotes were identified and coded based on their relevance to the aforementioned topics. Based on the data coding that has been completed thus far, some of the more common themes are social factors, RAEs, developmental factors, communication, and confusion. From the above themes, there was an overwhelming sense of confusion regarding when the change would be implemented and the impact this would have on age groupings. Although this policy change was implemented to combat the RAE, the revision will only modify those who are advantaged/disadvantaged and there is a disconnect between academic literature on solutions to the RAE and what is being implemented. This misunderstanding has and may continue to result in local soccer organizations resisting the change and athletes completely dropping out of the sport, which may have implications for volunteer recruitment and retention