Numerical and Theoretical Studies of Noise Effects in the Kauffman Model

In this work we analyze the stochastic dynamics of the Kauffman model evolving under the influence of noise. By considering the average crossing time between two distinct trajectories, we show that different Kauffman models exhibit a similar kind of behavior, even when the structure of their basins of attraction is quite different. This can be considered as a robust property of these models. We present numerical results for the full range of noise level and obtain approximate analytic expressions for the above crossing time as a function of the noise in the limit cases of small and large noise levels.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figures, Submitted to the Journal of Statistical Physic

Successful Treatment of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Infertility with Chinese Herbal Medicine: A Case Report

This case report details a 30 year old woman with hyperlipidemia, Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and infertility. Her impaired liver function has prevented the use of pharmaceutical drugs (statins and metformin). The patient therefore underwent two stages of Chinese herbal medicine treatment: the first formula to ameliorate hyperlipidemia and amenorrhea; and the second formula to improve ovarian dysfunction as well as glucose and lipid metabolism. Over 8 months of treatment, the patient achieved pregnancy and a natural birth without developing gestational diabetes. While the treatment of coexisting metabolic syndrome conditions is often complex and difficult, this case report highlights how Chinese herbal medicine may offer a successful treatment option for women with multiple metabolic abnormalities and associated infertilit

Pairs of Noncrossing Free Dyck Paths and Noncrossing Partitions

Using the bijection between partitions and vacillating tableaux, we establish a correspondence between pairs of noncrossing free Dyck paths of length $2n$ and noncrossing partitions of $[2n+1]$ with $n+1$ blocks. In terms of the number of up steps at odd positions, we find a characterization of Dyck paths constructed from pairs of noncrossing free Dyck paths by using the Labelle merging algorithm.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, revised version, to appear in Discrete Mathematic

Advances in Modelling Connected and Automated Vehicles

Transport and Plannin

Optimal management for alcoholic liver disease: Conventional medications, natural therapy or combination?

© The Author(s) 2016. Alcohol consumption is the principal factor in the pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is defined by histological lesions on the liver that can range from simple hepatic steatosis to more advanced stages such as alcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver failure. As one of the oldest forms of liver injury known to humans, ALD is still a leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality and the burden is exerting on medical systems with hospitalization and management costs rising constantly worldwide. Although the biological mechanisms, including increasing of acetaldehyde, oxidative stress with induction of cytochrome p450 2E1, inflammatory cytokine release, abnormal lipid metabolism and induction of hepatocyte apoptosis, by which chronic alcohol consumption triggers serious complex progression of ALD is well established, there is no universally accepted therapy to prevent or reverse. In this article, we have briefly reviewed the pathogenesis of ALD and the molecular targets for development of novel therapies. This review is focused on current therapeutic strategies for ALD, including lifestyle modification with nutrition supplements, available pharmacological drugs and new agents that are under development, liver transplantation, application of complementary medicines, and their combination. The relevant molecular mechanisms of each conventional medication and natural agent have been reviewed according to current available knowledge in the literature. We also summarized efficacy vs safety on conventional and herbal medicines which are specifically used for the prevention and treatment of ALD. Through a system review, this article highlighted that the combination of pharmaceutical drugs with naturally occurring agents may offer an optimal management for ALD and its complications. It is worthwhile to conduct large-scale, multiple centre clinical trials to further prove the safety and benefits for the integrative therapy on ALD

Hot electrons in low-dimensional phonon systems

A simple bulk model of electron-phonon coupling in metals has been surprisingly successful in explaining experiments on metal films that actually involve surface- or other low-dimensional phonons. However, by an exact application of this standard model to a semi-infinite substrate with a free surface, making use of the actual vibrational modes of the substrate, we show that such agreement is fortuitous, and that the model actually predicts a low-temperature crossover from the familiar T^5 temperature dependence to a stronger T^6 log T scaling. Comparison with existing experiments suggests a widespread breakdown of the standard model of electron-phonon thermalization in metals

Minimizing the Average Delay at Intersections via Presignals and Speed Control

© 2018 Mina Ghanbarikarekani et al. Urban intersections have been well recognized as bottlenecks of urban transport systems. It is thus important to propose and implement strategies for increasing the efficiency of public and private transportation systems as a whole. In order to achieve this goal, an additional signal could be set up near the intersection to give priority to buses through stopping vehicles in advance of the main intersection as a presignal. It has been increasingly popular in urban cities. While presignals indeed reduce the average delay per traveler, they cause extra stops of private vehicles, which might compromise the overall efficiency, safety, and sustainability. This paper aims to propose a model to improve presignals by reducing the vehicles' number of stops behind the presignals. By applying the method, vehicles would be able to adjust their speed based on traffic conditions as well as buses' speed and approach. Numerical analyses have been conducted to determine the conditions required for implementing this method