MaaSim: A Liveability Simulation for Improving the Quality of Life in Cities

Urbanism is no longer planned on paper thanks to powerful models and 3D simulation platforms. However, current work is not open to the public and lacks an optimisation agent that could help in decision making. This paper describes the creation of an open-source simulation based on an existing Dutch liveability score with a built-in AI module. Features are selected using feature engineering and Random Forests. Then, a modified scoring function is built based on the former liveability classes. The score is predicted using Random Forest for regression and achieved a recall of 0.83 with 10-fold cross-validation. Afterwards, Exploratory Factor Analysis is applied to select the actions present in the model. The resulting indicators are divided into 5 groups, and 12 actions are generated. The performance of four optimisation algorithms is compared, namely NSGA-II, PAES, SPEA2 and eps-MOEA, on three established criteria of quality: cardinality, the spread of the solutions, spacing, and the resulting score and number of turns. Although all four algorithms show different strengths, eps-MOEA is selected to be the most suitable for this problem. Ultimately, the simulation incorporates the model and the selected AI module in a GUI written in the Kivy framework for Python. Tests performed on users show positive responses and encourage further initiatives towards joining technology and public applications.Comment: 16 page

Challenges and opportunities associated with waste management in India

India faces major environmental challenges associated with waste generation and inadequate waste collection, transport, treatment and disposal. Current systems in India cannot cope with the volumes of waste generated by an increasing urban population, and this impacts on the environment and public health. The challenges and barriers are significant, but so are the opportunities. This paper reports on an international seminar on ‘Sustainable solid waste management for cities: opportunities in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries’ organized by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute and the Royal Society. A priority is to move from reliance on waste dumps that offer no environmental protection, to waste management systems that retain useful resources within the economy. Waste segregation at source and use of specialized waste processing facilities to separate recyclable materials has a key role. Disposal of residual waste after extraction of material resources needs engineered landfill sites and/or investment in waste-to-energy facilities. The potential for energy generation from landfill via methane extraction or thermal treatment is a major opportunity, but a key barrier is the shortage of qualified engineers and environmental professionals with the experience to deliver improved waste management systems in India

Assessment of the Degree of Willingness to Change from Motorized Travel Modes to Walking or Cycling

This paper presents an analysis of the degree of willingness to change from motorized travel modes to walking or cycling. The aim of the analysis is to reduce uncertainty between stated willingness to change and real shifts from car or transit to nonmotorized transportation modes. Data were collected in the city of Valencia, Spain, through a novel data collection effort based on multiple survey methods. Respondents traveling by car or transit were asked about their willingness to change to walking or cycling under the implementation of improvement measures to be selected. Then a hypothetical scenario was presented to respondents who stated a willingness to change; in the scenario, the previously selected measures were implemented and respondents were supposed to be cycling or walking. In addition, the costs of their usual travel mode were gradually reduced until they gave up cycling or walking. Those who decided to keep on walking or cycling were assumed to have a strong willingness to change. A statistical analysis performed with Heckman's sample selection model permitted identification of demographic, socioeconomic, and travel-related factors influencing the degree of willingness to change. Results revealed that car users presented a stronger willingness to switch to walking or cycling than transit users. In addition, older respondents showed a stronger willingness to change to both walking and cycling. Work- and school-related journeys were less associated with walking than noncommuting journeys, but they were more related to cycling. Policy implications of the results are highlighted.Ferrer, S.; Ruiz Sánchez, T. (2013). Assessment of the Degree of Willingness to Change from Motorized Travel Modes to Walking or Cycling. Transportation Research Record. (2382):112-120. doi:10.3141/2382-13S112120238

Фибронектин: структура, функции, клиническая значимость (обзор)

Plasma fibronectin is a high molecular weight adhesive glycoprotein. There are two types of fibronectin: plasma (soluble) and cellular derived (insoluble). Electron microscopy revealed two types of structural organization of fibronectin: compact and expanded. In solution, fibronectin has a compact conformation, and after binding to certain substrates (collagen, fibrin, heparin), it is expanded. Plasma fibronectin is one of the main opsonins of blood plasma in relation to the “targets” of phagocytosis of a predominantly non-bacterial nature, as well as to some types of bacteria. For the treatment of septic processes, as well as respiratory distress syndrome of adults with severe fibronectin deficiency, plasma cryoprecipitate is used – a donor plasma preparation containing a large amount of plasma fibronectin (more than 2 mg/ml). It was proposed to replenish the level of fibronectin in patients with sepsis and other conditions that cause plasma fibronectin deficiency with the help of donor freshly frozen plasma. Transfusion of large volumes of freshly frozen plasma (up to 1000–1500 ml) to patients effectively eliminates the deficiency of plasma fibronectin. The concentration of plasma fibronectin in the blood significantly decreases after the addition of severe infectious processes to hematological diseases, as well as acute DIC syndrome. Extracorporeal methods of blood purification – selective plasmapheresis – have been developed to correct immunocomplex and fibronectin-complex pathology. Two variants of selective plasmapheresis have been proposed: the method of heparinocryoprecipitation of plasma proteins and the method of heparinocryofractionation. In 1987, a plasma heparin precipitate was proposed as a source of fibronectin for the treatment of patients with trophic skin lesions. In 1992, a new method was proposed for obtaining blood preparations with a high concentration of plasma fibronectin from patients themselves (heparin cryofractionation). Autofibronectin preparations obtained by such methods are effective in the local treatment of trophic ulcers in 90–93% of cases. The proposed drugs are safe against infection of patients with infectious diseases transmitted through the blood.Плазменный фибронектин (ФН) является высокомолекулярным адгезивным гликопротеином. Существует два типа ФН: плазменный (растворимый) и клеточный (нерастворимый). Методом электронной микроскопии обнаружено два типа структурной организации ФН: компактная и развернутая. В растворе ФН имеет компактную конформацию, а после связывания с определенными субстратами (коллагеном, фибрином, гепарином) – развернутую. Плазменный ФН является одним из основных опсонинов плазмы крови по отношению к мишеням фагоцитоза преимущественно небактериальной природы, а также к некоторым видам бактерий. Для лечения септических процессов, а также респираторного дистресс-синдрома взрослых, протекающих с выраженным дефицитом ФН, используют плазменный криопреципитат – препарат донорской плазмы, в котором содержится большое количество плазменного ФН (более 2 мг/мл). Было предложено восполнять уровень ФН у пациентов с сепсисом и другими состояниями, вызывающими дефицит плазменного ФН, при помощи донорской свежезамороженной плазмы. Переливание пациентам больших объемов свежезамороженной плазмы (до 1000–1500 мл) эффективно нивелирует дефицит плазменного ФН. Концентрация плазменного ФН в крови достоверно снижается после присоединения к гематологическим заболеваниям тяжелых инфекционных процессов, а также острого ДВС-синдрома (диссеминированное внутрисосудистое свертывание). Для коррекции иммунокомплексной и фибронектинокомплексной патологии разработаны экстракорпоральные методы очистки крови – селективные плазмаферезы. Было предложено два варианта селективного плазмафереза: метод гепаринокриопреципитации плазменных белков и способ гепаринокриофракционирования. В 1987 г. в качестве источника ФН для лечения больных с трофическими поражениями кожи был предложен препарат плазменного гепаринового преципитата. В 1992 г. предложен новый способ получения – от самих же пациентов препаратов крови с высокой концентрацией плазменного ФН (гепаринокриофракционирование). Полученные таким способом препараты аутофибронектина эффективны при местном лечении трофических язв в 90–93% случаев. Предлагаемые препараты безопасны в отношении заражения больных инфекционными заболеваниями, передающимися через кровь

Three-dimensional fluctuating Couette flow through the porous plates with heat transfer

Unsteady Couette flow of a viscous incompressible fluid between two horizontal porous flat plates is considered. The stationary plate is subjected to a periodic suction and the plate in uniform motion is subjected to uniform injection. Approximate solutions have been obtained for the velocity and the temperature fields, skin friction by using perturbation technique. The heat transfer characteristic has also been studied on taking viscous dissipation into account. It is found that the main flow velocity decreases with increase in frequency parameter. On the other hand, the magnitude of the cross-flow velocity increases with increase in frequency parameter. It is seen that the amplitude of the shear stress due to main flow decreases while that due to cross-flow increases with increase in frequency parameter. It is also seen that the tangent of phase shifts both due to the main and cross-flows decrease with increase in frequency parameter. It is observed that the temperature increases with increase in frequency parameter

Hydrodynamic effect on the three-dimensional flow past a vertical porous plate

The study of unsteady hydrodynamic free convective flow of a viscous incompressible fluid past a vertical porous plate in the presence of a variable suction has been made. Approximate solutions have been derived for the velocity and temperature fields, shear stress, and rate of heat transfer using perturbation technique. It is observed that main fluid velocity decreases with increase in Prandtl number, while it increases with increase in suction parameter. The cross-velocity decreases near the plate and increases away from the plate with increase in suction parameter. On the other hand, it increases near the plate and decreases away from the plate with increase in frequency parameter. The amplitude and the tangent of phase shift of the shear stress due to main flow decrease with increase in either Prandtl number, Grashof number, or frequency parameter. It is seen that the temperature decreases with increase in either suction parameter, Prandtl number, or frequency parameter. It is also seen that the amplitude of the rate of heat transfer increases and the tangent of phase shift of rate of heat transfer decreases with increase in Prandtl number

Three-dimensional oscillating flow between two parallel plates through a porous medium

An unsteady Couette flow between two parallel plates when upper plates oscillates in its own plane and is subjected to a constant suction and the lower plate to a injection velocity distribution through the porous medium has been analyzed. The approximate solution has been obtained using perturbation technique. It is seen that the primary velocity increases whereas the secondary velocity decreases with an increase in permeability parameter. It is also found that the primary velocity increases with an increase in the Reynolds number as well as the suction parameter. The magnitude of the secondary velocity increases near the stationary plate but decreases near the oscillating plate with an increase in the Reynolds number. Whereas, it increases with an increase in the suction parameter

Three-dimensional oscillating flow between two parallel plates through a porous medium

An unsteady Couette flow between two parallel plates when upper plates oscillates in its own plane and is subjected to a constant suction and the lower plate to a injection velocity distribution through the porous medium has been analyzed. The approximate solution has been obtained using perturbation technique. It is seen that the primary velocity increases whereas the secondary velocity decreases with an increase in permeability parameter. It is also found that the primary velocity increases with an increase in the Reynolds number as well as the suction parameter. The magnitude of the secondary velocity increases near the stationary plate but decreases near the oscillating plate with an increase in the Reynolds number. Whereas, it increases with an increase in the suction parameter