The S-rule and 1-d representation for the traversal of a planar graph in AEC industry

Based on two trivial observations of the AEC industry, this paper proposes a traversal method ("S-rule") and expression ("1-dimensional-graph") transformed from DFS. This traversal method conforms to the original cognitive logic of the AEC industry, and the 1-d expression has clear language characteristics while completely retaining the topological relationship of the planar graph : a sequence of finite symbols (vocabularies) under definite rules. Moreover, the language can be restored to a standard 2-d form that is isomorphic to the original planar graph, thus ensuring its visualization characteristics. Fragments of the 1-d language can be used as planar units for free combination and weighting, and as the data foundation to support advanced calculations including FEM and isomorphic matching. And after the 2-d graph is reduced to 1-d, any 3-d or higher-dimensional graphs can also be reduced to 1 or 2 dimensions. The first half of this paper (Chapter 1) takes the 4X4 standard grid as an example to introduce the prototype of S-rule and 1-d expression, and gives the mapping rule from 1-d expression to its editable text form. In the second half of this paper, the rule and expression are gradually extended to non-embedded planar graphs (Chapter 2) and embedded planar graphs (Chapter 3), and the "grammar" is finally summarized (Chapter 4)

Evaluating staggered working hours using a multi-agent-based Q-learning model

Staggered working hours has the potential to alleviate excessive demands on urban transport networks during the morning and afternoon peak hours and influence the travel behavior of individuals by affecting their activity schedules and reducing their commuting times. This study proposes a multi-agent-based Q-learning algorithm for evaluating the influence of staggered work hours by simulating travelers’ time and location choices in their activity patterns. Interactions among multiple travelers were also considered. Various types of agents were identified based on real activity–travel data for a mid-sized city in China. Reward functions based on time and location information were constructed using Origin–Destination (OD) survey data to simulate individuals’ temporal and spatial choices simultaneously. Interactions among individuals were then described by introducing a road impedance function to formulate a dynamic environment in which one traveler’s decisions influence the decisions of other travelers. Lastly, by applying the Q-learning algorithm, individuals’ activity–travel patterns under staggered working hours were simulated. Based on the simulation results, the effects of staggered working hours were evaluated on both a macroscopic level, at which the space–time distribution of the traffic volume in the network was determined, and a microscopic level, at which the timing of individuals’ leisure activities and their daily household commuting costs were determined. Based on the simulation results and experimental tests, an optimal scheme for staggering working hours was developed

DICER1 regulated let-7 expression levels in p53-induced cancer repression requires cyclin D1.

Let-7 miRNAs act as tumour suppressors by directly binding to the 3\u27UTRs of downstream gene products. The regulatory role of let-7 in downstream gene expression has gained much interest in the cancer research community, as it controls multiple biological functions and determines cell fates. For example, one target of the let-7 family is cyclin D1, which promotes G0/S cell cycle progression and oncogenesis, was correlated with endoribonuclease DICER1, another target of let-7. Down-regulated let-7 has been identified in many types of tumours, suggesting a feedback loop may exist between let-7 and cyclin D1. A potential player in the proposed feedback relationship is Dicer, a central regulator of miRNA expression through sequence-specific silencing. We first identified that DICER1 is the key downstream gene for cyclin D1-induced let-7 expression. In addition, we found that let-7 miRNAs expression decreased because of the p53-induced cell death response, with deregulated cyclin D1. Our results also showed that cyclin D1 is required for Nutlin-3 and TAX-induced let-7 expression in cancer repression and the cell death response. For the first time, we provide evidence that let-7 and cyclin D1 form a feedback loop in regulating therapy response of cancer cells and cancer stem cells, and importantly, that alteration of let-7 expression, mainly caused by cyclin D1, is a sensitive indicator for better chemotherapies response

Why Are Outcomes Different for Registry Patients Enrolled Prospectively and Retrospectively? Insights from the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF).

Background: Retrospective and prospective observational studies are designed to reflect real-world evidence on clinical practice, but can yield conflicting results. The GARFIELD-AF Registry includes both methods of enrolment and allows analysis of differences in patient characteristics and outcomes that may result. Methods and Results: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ≥1 risk factor for stroke at diagnosis of AF were recruited either retrospectively (n = 5069) or prospectively (n = 5501) from 19 countries and then followed prospectively. The retrospectively enrolled cohort comprised patients with established AF (for a least 6, and up to 24 months before enrolment), who were identified retrospectively (and baseline and partial follow-up data were collected from the emedical records) and then followed prospectively between 0-18 months (such that the total time of follow-up was 24 months; data collection Dec-2009 and Oct-2010). In the prospectively enrolled cohort, patients with newly diagnosed AF (≤6 weeks after diagnosis) were recruited between Mar-2010 and Oct-2011 and were followed for 24 months after enrolment. Differences between the cohorts were observed in clinical characteristics, including type of AF, stroke prevention strategies, and event rates. More patients in the retrospectively identified cohort received vitamin K antagonists (62.1% vs. 53.2%) and fewer received non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (1.8% vs . 4.2%). All-cause mortality rates per 100 person-years during the prospective follow-up (starting the first study visit up to 1 year) were significantly lower in the retrospective than prospectively identified cohort (3.04 [95% CI 2.51 to 3.67] vs . 4.05 [95% CI 3.53 to 4.63]; p = 0.016). Conclusions: Interpretations of data from registries that aim to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with AF must take account of differences in registry design and the impact of recall bias and survivorship bias that is incurred with retrospective enrolment. Clinical Trial Registration: - URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier for GARFIELD-AF (NCT01090362)

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

A bimodal transit system for large cities: cost efficiency and environment friendliness

This paper proposes a bimodal urban transit system with point-to-point transit (PPT) services considering the emission. PPT is designated to serve passengers with long travel distances, connecting two transport hubs with few intermediate stops. We focus on the bimodal system of FRT and PPT, formulating the joint design problem as a mixed-integer program through a parsimonious continuum model. The relative location between FRT and PPT stations varies over space, which complicates route choice analysis. We overcome the challenge by approximating the costs to access transit stations at an aggregate origin-destination level. This is validated by Monte Carlo simulation. Our findings show that the proposed system is both more cost-efficient and eco-friendly than the regular system in cities with high travel demand. However, its performance deteriorates as demand drops. Such a demand threshold is systematically examined in cities with different features such as geographical sizes, PPT speed, and income levels

Paired-line hybrid transit design considering spatial heterogeneity

This study attempts to incorporate spatial heterogeneity into the optimal design of paired-line hybrid transit systems, which aims to strike a better balance between accessibility and efficiency by leveraging the flexibility of a demand adaptive service. A simple trip production and distribution model is introduced to differentiate the central business district (CBD) of a city from its periphery. To cope with the heterogeneous demand pattern, the transit system is also configured differently inside and outside the CBD, for both its fixed route and demand adaptive services. Allowing the supply heterogeneity complicates transit users’ route choice modeling considerably. As a result, user costs must be estimated separately for six subregions that constitute the feasible set of the fixed route headway. Each subregion corresponds to a unique route choice behavior, hence leading to a distinctive design model that is formulated as a mixed integer program and solved by a commercial solver. Results of numerical experiments show that concentrating demand in the CBD significantly reduces the average system cost, and this benefit increases as the average demand density becomes larger. Also, recognizing demand heterogeneity and responding to it with a tailored design can be highly beneficial. However, this benefit diminishes as the average demand density increases