Who gets the key first? Car allocation in activity-based modelling

Sigrun Beige,Matthias Heinrichs,Daniel Krajzewicz,Rita Cyganski 서울시립대학교 도시과학연구원 2018 도시과학국제저널 Vol.22 No.2

Decisions concerning household car ownership and the corresponding usage by the household members have significant implications on vehicle usage, fuel consumption and vehicle emissions. In this context, long-term and short-term choices which are strongly interrelated with one another play an important role. The long-term aspects involve the number of vehicles and their different types owned by a household as well as the assignment of a main driver, acting as the primary user, to each vehicle. The short-term dimension is represented by the vehicle allocation within a household at a daily level. In order to better understand the vehicle allocation process in the household context, the paper at hand investigates the importance of the short-term and long-term aspects in this process and explores several approaches to model them. For this purpose, four different methods for car allocation within a household, which strongly differ in their complexity, are implemented into a microscopic agent-based travel demand model and subsequently evaluated. The respective approaches are the following: (1) random car allocation, (2) car allocation by age, (3) car allocation by main driver assignment, and (4) car allocation by household optimization. Given a population of a bigger region that is described by a set of attributes, these various models determine which person of a household uses one of the available cars within the household for his/her daily trips. The simulations show that all four implementations of car allocation result in good representations (with deviations of less than 10%) of observed travel behaviour, their results being closer to each other than initially expected. Model (4), which optimizes car allocation for the entire household, shows the best results when compared to real-world data, while model (3) allows for the adaptation of changes in car ownership and/or socio-demographic and socio-economic attributes of the population.

Directional convexity of combinations of harmonic half-plane and strip mappings

Subzar Beig,Vaithiyanathan Ravichandran 대한수학회 2022 대한수학회논문집 Vol.37 No.1

For $k=1,2$, let $f_k=h_k+\overline{g_k}$ be normalized harmonic right half-plane or vertical strip mappings. We consider the convex combination $\hat{f}=\eta f_1+(1-\eta)f_2 =\eta h_1+(1-\eta)h_2 +\overline{\overline{\eta} g_1+(1-\overline{\eta})g_2}$ and the combination $\tilde{f}=\eta h_1+(1-\eta)h_2+\overline{\eta g_1+(1-\eta)g_2}$. For real $\eta$, the two mappings $\hat{f}$ and $\tilde{f}$ are the same. We investigate the univalence and directional convexity of $\hat{f}$ and $\tilde{f}$ for $\eta\in\mathbb{C}$. Some sufficient conditions are found for convexity of the combination $\tilde{f}$.

Lineage conversion of mouse fibroblasts to pancreatic α-cells

Lijian Hui,Liangliang Sun,Beige Jiang,Limei Li,Jin Cen,Xiaotao Chen,Zhaoyun Zhang,Qinghua Wang,Xin Cheng,Yongquan Shi,Lijian Hui 생화학분자생물학회 2017 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.49 No.-

α-cells, which synthesize glucagon, also support β-cell survival and have the capacity to transdifferentiate into β-cells. However, the role of α-cells in pathological conditions and their putative clinical applications remain elusive due in large part to the lack of mature α-cells. Here, we present a new technique to generate functional α-like cells. α-like cells (iAlpha cells) were generated from mouse fibroblasts by transduction of transcription factors, including Hhex, Foxa3, Gata4, Pdx1 and Pax4, which induce α-cell-specific gene expression and glucagon secretion in response to KCl and Arg stimulation. The cell functions in vivo and in vitro were evaluated. Lineage-specific and functional-related gene expression was tested by realtime PCR, insulin tolerance test (ITT), glucose tolerance test (GTT), Ki67 and glucagon immunohistochemistry analysis were done in iAlpha cells transplanted nude mice. iAlpha cells possess α-cell function in vitro and alter blood glucose levels in vivo. Transplantation of iAlpha cells into nude mice resulted in insulin resistance and increased β-cell proliferation. Taken together, we present a novel strategy to generate functional α-like cells for the purposes of disease modeling and regenerative medicine.

The BCG vaccine, advantages, and disadvantages of introducing new generation vaccines against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Ari Marzie Mahdizade,Beig Masoumeh,Sholeh Mohammad,Khoshmirsafa Majid 대한백신학회 2024 Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research Vol.13 No.3

Tuberculosis (TB) is consistently ranked among the deadliest diseases worldwide, causing millions of deaths annually. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent for this infection. Different antibiotics and vaccines have been discussed as potential treatments and prevention. Currently, there is only one licensed vaccine against TB, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). Despite its protective efficacy against TB in children, BCG has failed to protect adults against pulmonary TB, lacks therapeutic value, and can cause complications in immunocompromised individuals. In this review, BCG, the most widely administered vaccine, is discussed, and the newest vaccines available in medicine are discussed. Based on the restrictions that prevent optimal BCG efficacy and the vaccines that are now being tested in various clinical studies, some criteria need to be considered in designing future vaccines.

Aerosol Modulation of Ultraviolet Radiation Dose over Four Metro Cities in India

Panicker, A. S.,Pandithurai, G.,Beig, G.,Kim, Dongchul,Lee, Dong-In Hindawi Limited 2014 Advances in meteorology Vol.2014 No.-

<P>This paper discusses the influence of aerosols on UV erythemal dose over four metro cities in India. Tropospheric Emission Monitoring Internet Service (TEMIS), archived UV-index (UV-I), and UV daily erythemal dose obtained from SCIAMACHY satellite were used in this study during June 2004 and May 2005 periods covering four important Indian seasons. UV-Index (UV-I), an important parameter representing UV risk, was found to be in the high to extreme range in Chennai (8.1 to 15.33), moderate to extreme range in Mumbai and Kolkata (5 to 16.5), and low to extreme over Delhi (3 to 15). Average UV erythemal dose showed seasonal variation from 5.9 to 6.3 KJm<SUP>−2</SUP>during summer, 2.9 to 4.4 KJm<SUP>−2</SUP>during postmonsoon, 3 to 4.5 KJm<SUP>−2</SUP>during winter, and 5.1 to 6.19 KJm<SUP>−2</SUP>during premonsoon seasons over the four cities. To estimate the influence of aerosols on reducing UV dose, UV aerosol radiative forcing and forcing efficiency were estimated over the sites. The average aerosol forcing efficiency was found to be from-1.38±0.33to-3.01±0.28 KJm<SUP>−2</SUP>AOD<SUP>−1</SUP>on different seasons. The study suggests that aerosols can reduce the incoming UV radiation dose by 30–60% during different seasons.</P>

Should all patients with hypertension be worried about developing severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

Bahardoust Mansour,Goharrizi Mohammad Ali Sheikh Beig,Bahardoust Mansour,Alvanegh Akbar Ghorbani,Ataee Mohammad Reza,Bagheri Mehdi,Navidiyan Ensiyeh Shabani,Zijoud Seyed Reza Hosseini,Heiat Mohammad 대한고혈압학회 2021 Clinical Hypertension Vol.27 No.2

Background: Hypertension, the most common comorbidity among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, is accompanied by worse clinical outcomes, but there is lack of evidence about prognostic factors among COVID19 patients with hypertension. We have come up with some prognostic factors to predict the severity of COVID-19 among hypertensive patients. In addition, epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory differences among COVID-19 patients with and without underlying hypertension were evaluated. Methods: Medical profiles of 598 COVID-19 cases were analyzed. Patients were divided into two comparative groups according to their positive or negative history of hypertension. Then, epidemiologic, clinical, laboratory and radiological features and also clinical outcomes were compared. Results: 176 (29.4%) patients had underlying hypertension. Diabetes was significantly higher in hypertensive group [72 (40.9%) vs 76 (18%)] (P-value: 0.001). Cardiovascular and renal disorders were significantly higher in hypertensive patients. (P-value: 0.001 and 0.013 respectively). In COVID-19 patients with hypertension, severe/critical types were significantly higher. [42(23.8%) vs. 41(9.7%)], (P-value: 0.012). In the logistic regression model, Body mass index > 25 (ORAdj: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2 to 2.42; P-value: 0.027), age over 60 (ORAdj: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.42; P-value: 0.021), increased hospitalization period (ORAdj: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.24 to 2.97; P-value: 0.013), type 2 diabetes (ORAdj: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.15 to 3.31; P-value: 0.001) and chronic kidney disease (ORAdj: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.19 to 2.21; P-value: 0.013) were related with progression of COVID-19. Conclusion: Hypertensive patients with Age > 60-year-old, BMI > 25 Kg/m2 , CVD, diabetes and chronic kidney disease are associated with poor outcomes in those with COVID-19 infection.

Forecasting of Various Air Pollutant Parameters in Bangalore Using Naïve Bayesian

Shivkumar M,Sudhindra K R,Pranesha T S,Chate D M,Beig G International Journal of Computer ScienceNetwork S 2024 International journal of computer science and netw Vol.24 No.3

Weather forecasting is considered to be of utmost important among various important sectors such as flood management and hydro-electricity generation. Although there are various numerical methods for weather forecasting but majority of them are reported to be Mechanistic computationally demanding due to their complexities. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and build models for accurately predicting the weather conditions which are faster as well as efficient in comparison to the prevalent meteorological models. The study has been undertaken to forecast various atmospheric parameters in the city of Bangalore using Naïve Bayes algorithms. The individual parameters analyzed in the study consisted of wind speed (WS), wind direction (WD), relative humidity (RH), solar radiation (SR), black carbon (BC), radiative forcing (RF), air temperature (AT), bar pressure (BP), PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 of the Bangalore city collected from Air Quality Monitoring Station for a period of 5 years from January 2015 to May 2019. The study concluded that Naive Bayes is an easy and efficient classifier that is centered on Bayes theorem, is quite efficient in forecasting the various air pollution parameters of the city of Bangalore.

Assessment of the Predictive Role of Serum Lipid Profiles in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Fanli Qu,Rui Chen,Yang Peng,Ying Ye,Zhenrong Tang,Yihua Wang,Beige Zong,Haochen Yu,Shengchun Liu 한국유방암학회 2020 Journal of breast cancer Vol.23 No.3

Purpose: Effective predictors of the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) are still insufficient. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of serum lipid profiles for the response to NAC in breast cancer patients. Methods: A total of 533 breast cancer patients who had received NAC were retrospectively studied. The pretreatment of serum lipids, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and lipoprotein-α, and clinicopathological characteristics were collected to assess their predictive roles. Results: Breast cancer patients had significantly lower TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C levels than normal individuals. Among these indicators, TG and LDL-C levels and HDL-C level increased and decreased significantly after NAC, respectively. In estrogen receptor (ER)-positive patients, increased LDL-C level was associated with better outcomes. Moreover, the receiver operating characteristic curve analyses suggested that TG and HDL-C levels at diagnosis can be used as predictors of the response to NAC only in the ER-positive subgroup. According to univariate analyses, patients with low TG level (< 1.155 mmol/L) or high HDL-C level (≥ 1.305 mmol/L) in the ER-positive subgroup had more favorable clinical responses than the other patients in the subgroup. Furthermore, according to multivariate analyses, a high HDL-C level (≥ 1.305 mmol/L, p = 0.007) was an independent predictor of NAC efficacy. Conclusion: High HDL-C level (≥ 1.305 mmol/L) before NAC and increased LDL-C level after NAC were associated with the better treatment response in ER-positive breast cancer patients. These results are potentially considered beneficial in establishing treatment decisions.

Characteristics and Variability of Carbonaceous Aerosols over a Semi Urban Location in Garhwal Himalayas

K. Sandeep,R. S. Negi,A. S. Panicker,Alok Sagar Gautam,D. S. Bhist,G. Beig,B. S. Murthy,R. Latha,Santosh Singh,S. Das 한국기상학회 2020 Asia-Pacific Journal of Atmospheric Sciences Vol.56 No.3

Extraction of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) were carried out over Srinagar, India, an ecologically sensitive semi-urban site in Garhwal Himalays. The PM2.5 sampling was carried out during January to December, 2017 over the site. The OC and EC were extracted from PM2.5 samples using a thermo optical OC/EC analyzer. Highest OC and EC concncentrations were found during postmonsoon (17.67 ± 1.1 μg/m3 OC and 6.34 ± 0.75 EC) and Winter (17.31 ± 3.045 μg/m3 OC and 6.32 ± 0.585 μg/m3 EC) seasons are attributed to boundary layer dynamics and anthropogenic activities. The lower concentration of OC/ EC was observed during monsoon season (11.64 ± 1.75 μgm−3 OC and 3.46 ± 0.19μgm−3 EC) owing to wet scavenging of aerosols and minimum count of forest fire/biomass buring incidences. Both pre-monsoon and post-monsoon season concentrations are also influenced by biomass burning in the IGP (Indo-Gangetic Plain) region and forest fires in the adjecent areas. The OC/EC ratio sounds that vehicular exhaust and biomass burning are the major source of OC/EC over the site. Generation of secondary organic carbon (SOC) at the region causes variability in OC/EC ratio in different seasons. It is found that 24–32% of PM2.5 is contributed by carbonaceous aerosols (OC and EC) over Srinagar. The pivotal role of meteorology in modulating OC/ EC concentrations has been illustared in detail.