Multi-Species Asymmetric Exclusion Process in Ordered Sequential Update

A multi-species generalization of the asymmetric simple exclusion process (ASEP) is studied in ordered sequential and sub-lattice parallel updating schemes. In this model particles hop with their own specific probabilities to their rightmost empty site and fast particles overtake slow ones with a definite probability. Using Matrix Product Ansatz (MPA), we obtain the relevant algebra, and study the uncorrelated stationary state of the model both for an open system and on a ring. A complete comparison between the physical results in these updates and those of random sequential introduced in [20,21] is made.Comment: Latex file 36 pages with 10 EPS figure

Optimization of Green-Times at an Isolated Urban Crossroads

We propose a model for the intersection of two urban streets. The traffic status of the crossroads is controlled by a set of traffic lights which periodically switch to red and green with a total period of T. Two different types of crossroads are discussed. The first one describes the intersection of two one-way streets, while the second type models the intersection of a two-way street with an one-way street. We assume that the vehicles approach the crossroads with constant rates in time which are taken as the model parameters. We optimize the traffic flow at the crossroads by minimizing the total waiting time of the vehicles per cycle of the traffic light. This leads to the determination of the optimum green-time allocated to each phase.Comment: 8 pages, 6 eps figures, more explanation added. To appear in EPJ

Evaluation of in vitro antiviral activity of a brown alga (Cystoseira myrica) from the Persian Gulf against herpes simplex virus type 1

The hot water extract of a brown marine alga, Cystoseira myrica, from the Persian Gulf was evaluated as an antiviral compound against KOS strain of HSV-1 in cell culture. The extract exhibited antiviralactivity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) not only during absorption of virus to the cells, but also on post attachment stages of virus replication. The water extract of C. myrica was sterilized byfiltration and autoclaving, respectively. The IC50 for filtered extract was 99 ìg/ml and the IC50 for autoclaved extract was 125 ìg/ml. Based on resulted selectivity index (SI) values of the extracts, whichwere 33.4 and 28.2 for filtered and autoclaved extracts, respectively, we found that the antiviral compound(s) in the water extract of C. myrica to be heat stable. Also, the SI values for inhibition of thepost attachment stages of HSV-1 replication were 23.1 and 21.7 for filtered and autoclaved extracts, respectively. The IC50 in this phase of study were 143 and 162 ìg/ml for filtered and autoclaved extracts,respectively. Therefore, C. myrica could be a good candidate as a natural source for anti-HSV-1 compound(s) isolation

Impact of exposure to ambient air pollutants on the admission rate of hospitals for asthma disease in Shiraz, southern Iran

Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease in the world. Short-term exposure to ambient air pollutants is closely related to acute respiratory diseases and asthmatic symptoms. The purpose of this research was to estimate the correlation between exposure to three air pollutants (O3, NO2, and SO2) and hospital admission because of asthmatic disease (HAAD) in the city of Shiraz, southern Iran. The data were collected from the two real-time monitoring stations located in this city. The acquired information was used for developing predictive models by the AirQ software. The findings of this study were reported for two age groups (<15 and 15–64 years old). The highest levels of O3, NO2, and SO2 were obtained 187.33 μg/m3, 34.1 μg/m3, and 491.2 μg/m3 in 2016, respectively, and 227.75 μg/m3, 92.26 μg/m3, and 190.21 μg/m3, respectively, in 2017. Among the mentioned pollutants, the yearly average concentration of SO2 was 8.62 times more than the WHO guideline, during the studied times. The number of extra cases of HAAD for <15 years and 15–64 years caused by the air pollutants in Shiraz were estimated to be 273 and 36, respectively, in 2016, and 243 and 30 for 2017, respectively. The results of this work displayed that air pollutants have caused respiratory problems in Shiraz city. The AirQ model is a facile and potential tool for the prediction of asthma disease to reduce the health risk of atmospheric pollutants in the worldwide