An Activity-Based Model for the Estimation of Origin-Destination Matrix on Road Networks

Travel demand forecasting in terms of origin-destination (O-D) matrix estimation on transportation networks is an important topic in transportation research. The motivation of each trip is the user’s desire of conducting a compulsory or noncompulsory activity. User activity choices should not be ignored for the trip demand forecasting; nevertheless, there are scare approaches of O-D matrix estimation incorporating users’ activity behavior in the literature. This study develops an activity-based bi-level model for the estimation of O-D matrix on road networks using the activity-based approach where road users’ activity and travel choices are integrated scheduled. In the estimation, the parameter of the user activity and travel choice model is simultaneously calibrated. A heuristic algorithm is explored to solve the model. A numerical example is provided. The example results illustrate that the developed model and heuristic algorithm are applicable and efficient tools to deal with the problem of O-D matrix estimation

Withaferin A induces apoptosis in rat C6 glioma cells through regulating NF-ΚB nuclear translocation and activation of caspase cascade

Background: The demand for the chemopreventive drug from the plant source is increasing in recent times, owing to its various biological activities without any adverse effect. The intention of this current study was to examine the antiglioma effect of Withaferin A (WFA) on C6 glioma cell line model.Materials and Methods: C6 glioma cells were administrated with different concentration of WFA (50, 100, 200 and 500 μg/mL) and DMSO (control) group to examine its anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic activities.Results: Treatment with WFA showed a significant decline in the glioma cell count in a dose-dependent manner and thus proving its anti-proliferative effect. Similarly, inflammatory markers were also substantially lowered upon treatment with different concentration of WFA. However, DNA fragmentation and apoptotic markers like Caspase-3 and 9 were concomitantly enhanced after co-cultured with different concentration of WFA and thus exhibiting its cytotoxicity efficacy. Furthermore, the protein expression of Bcl2 and Bax were markedly downregulated and upregulated respectively; upon treatment with WFA on C6 glioma cells.Conclusion: The outcome of this study evidently demonstrates that C6 glioma cells co-cultured with increased concentration of WFA, showed an anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic effect in a dose-dependent fashion.Keywords: Withaferin A, C6 glioma cells, anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, caspase, apoptosi

Spectroelectrochemical flow cell with temperature control for investigation of electrocatalytic systems with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

We describe a method for investigating the reaction mechanism of fuel cell systems by designing a spectroelectrochemical cell with functions of temperature and flow control to mimic the reaction condition of fuel cell systems and utilizing Au core Pt shell (Au@Pt) nanoparticles to enhance the Raman signal of the surface species on the surface of electrocatalysts. The cell consists of three parts: a thin-layer spectroelectrochemical reaction chamber with an optical window for Raman measurement, the heating chamber right beneath the reaction chamber, and a long spiral flow channel to preheat the solution to the desired temperature and effectively exchange the solution. The temperature of the solution can be easily controlled from room temperature to 80 degrees C, and the flow rate can be as high as 945 mu l s(-1). The temperature and flow control is demonstrated by monitoring the changes in the cyclic voltammograms and the Raman signals. By synthesizing Au@Pt nanoparticles and assembling them on a Pt substrate, we can significantly enhance the Raman signal of surface species on the Pt shell surface, which allows us to detect strong signal of CO as the dissociative product of formic acid as well as the intermediate species of the oxidation process. The further development and perspectives of using SERS to study the electrocatalytic systems are discussed

Arterial occlusion to treat basilar artery dissecting aneurysm

Object To explore the clinical feasibility of employing occlusion to treat basilar artery dissecting aneurysm. Methods One patient, male and 46 years old, suffered transient numbness and weakness on the right limbs. Cerebral angiography indicated basilar artery dissecting aneurysm. The patient underwent the stent-assisted coil embolization of aneurysm and the result is satisfactory. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) reviews were performed at 1 month and 4.5 months, respectively after the operation and indicate that the basilar artery is unobstructed and there was no recurrence of the aneurysm. DSA review 1 year after the first treatment indicates the aneurysm recurrence, stent-assisted coils dense embolization of aneurysm was performed again and the result was satisfactory. Ten months after the second operation, DSA review found the basilar artery aneurysm recurrence again and occlusion of the basilar artery was performed. Results The basilar artery occlusion was effective. The bilateral posterior inferior cerebellar arteries and the bilateral posterior cerebral arteries are unobstructed. Five months of follow-up found that the patient recovered well. DSA reviews performed 5 months after occlusion indicate no recurrence of the aneurysm. Conclusions Occlusion to treat basilar artery dissecting aneurysm is clinically feasible, but surgical indications should be considered strictly

Genetic dissection of climacteric fruit ripening in a melon population segregating for ripening behavior

Melon is as an alternative model to understand fruit ripening due to the coexistence of climacteric and non-climacteric varieties within the same species, allowing the study of the processes that regulate this complex trait with genetic approaches. We phenotyped a population of recombinant inbred lines (RILs), obtained by crossing a climacteric (Védrantais, cantalupensis type) and a non-climcteric variety (Piel de Sapo T111, inodorus type), for traits related to climacteric maturation and ethylene production. Individuals in the RIL population exhibited various combinations of phenotypes that differed in the amount of ethylene produced, the early onset of ethylene production, and other phenotypes associated with ripening. We characterized a major QTL on chromosome 8, ETHQV8.1, which is sufficient to activate climacteric ripening, and other minor QTLs that may modulate the climacteric response. The ETHQV8.1 allele was validated by using two reciprocal introgression line populations generated by crossing Védrantais and Piel de Sapo and analyzing the ETHQV8.1 region in each of the genetic backgrounds. A Genome-wide association study (GWAS) using 211 accessions of the ssp. melo further identified two regions on chromosome 8 associated with the production of aromas, one of these regions overlapping with the 154.1 kb interval containing ETHQV8.1. The ETHQV8.1 region contains several candidate genes that may be related to fruit ripening. This work sheds light into the regulation mechanisms of a complex trait such as fruit ripening.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

QTLs and candidate genes analyses for fruit size under domestication and differentiation in melon (Cucumis melo L.) based on high resolution maps

Background: Melon is a very important horticultural crop produced worldwide with high phenotypic diversity. Fruit size is among the most important domestication and differentiation traits in melon. The molecular mechanisms of fruit size in melon are largely unknown. Results: Two high-density genetic maps were constructed by whole-genome resequencing with two F2 segregating populations (WAP and MAP) derived from two crosses (cultivated agrestis × wild agrestis and cultivated melo × cultivated agrestis). We obtained 1,871,671 and 1,976,589 high quality SNPs that show differences between parents in WAP and MAP. A total of 5138 and 5839 recombination events generated 954 bins in WAP and 1027 bins in MAP with the average size of 321.3 Kb and 301.4 Kb respectively. All bins were mapped onto 12 linkage groups in WAP and MAP. The total lengths of two linkage maps were 904.4 cM (WAP) and 874.5 cM (MAP), covering 86.6% and 87.4% of the melon genome. Two loci for fruit size were identified on chromosome 11 in WAP and chromosome 5 in MAP, respectively. An auxin response factor and a YABBY transcription factor were inferred to be the candidate genes for both loci. Conclusion: The high-resolution genetic maps and QTLs analyses for fruit size described here will provide a better understanding the genetic basis of domestication and differentiation, and provide a valuable tool for map-based cloning and molecular marker assisted breeding.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio