Identifying traffic count posts for origin-destination matrix adjustments: An approach to actual size networks

For transportation planners, the use of Origin-Destination (OD) matrix adjustment, is receiving considerable attention. However, there are concerns about the validity of results, primarily related to the number and location of traffic count posts. This leads to the question “What would be the best set of traffic count posts to use in OD matrix adjustment modules?” It has been proved that solving this problem is cumbersome. There have been several attempts (either exact or heuristic approaches) to address this problem. But due to the inherent complexities, there is no efficient and easy-to-use methodology able to address situations on the scale of actual cases. This study demonstrates a simple way of identifying traffic count posts tailored to deal w ith real-size cases. The proposed methodology is based on a maximum matrix coverage criterion. Using a limited number of incremental trials, a set of links whose traffic flows give maximum coverage of the demand and maximum fitness to the corresponding traffic count rates are identified as traffic count posts. The results show that more traffic count posts do not necessarily yield a better result. This article reports on a project conducted for the public works ministry of the UAE city of Sharjah

Oxidative dna damage and lipid peroxidation to cluster vs. traditional sets resistance exercise in professional volleyball players

Cells continuously produce free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) as part of metabolic processes. Exercise can induce an imbalance between ROS and antioxidants, which is referred to as oxidative stress. Acute bout of resistance exercise (RE) induces activation of several distinct systems of radicals generation, but the effects of different RE loading on oxidative stress response is not clear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the influence of cluster vs. traditional sets of RE on oxidative DNA damage, lipid peroxidation and uric acid response in athletes. To elicit blood oxidative stress, 12 professional young male volleyball players undertook two different RE loading patterns: 1) cluster loading pattern, 2) traditional loading pattern which was standardized for total volume and completed in a randomized crossover fashion with a four-day interval between trials. Blood samples were collected before and after RE for markers of oxidative stress and damage. In response to both the cluster and traditional sets, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), and uric acid were significantly elevated post exercise (p<.05). Although no statistically significant differences between loading patterns were observed, the rate of elevations in 8-OHdG (effect size [ES]: 1.4 vs. 1.3) and 4-HNE (ES: 8.1 vs. 7.9) was greater for the traditional sets; likewise, the rate of uric acid excretion was greater for the cluster RE (ES: 1.6 vs. 1.4). These data suggests that RE induced DNA damage, and lipid peroxidation, but they were greater for the traditional RE. Therefore, strength and conditioning professionals in the field of volleyball must keep in their mind that RE induces oxidative stress and should use proper RE loading patterns in their training schedule

Electron Diffraction

Electron microscopes are usually supplied with equipment for obtaining diffraction patterns and micrographs from the same area of a specimen and the best results are attained if the complete use is to be made of these combined facilities. Electron diffraction patterns are used to obtain quantitative data including phase identification, orientation relationship and crystal defects in materials, etc. At first, a general introduction including a geometrical and quantitative approach to electron diffraction from a crystalline specimen, the reciprocal lattice and electron diffraction in the electron microscope are presented. The scattering process by an individual atom as well as a crystal, the Bragg law, Laue conditions and structure factor are also discussed. Types of diffraction patterns such as ring pattern, spot pattern and Kikuchi pattern, and general and unique indexing diffraction patterns are explained. The procedure for indexing simple, complicated and imperfect patterns as well as Kikuchi lines and a combination of Kikuchi lines and spots is outlined. The known and unknown materials are identified by indexing patterns. Practical comparisons between various methods of analysing diffraction patterns are also described. The basic diffraction patterns and the fine structure in the patterns including specimen tilting experiments, orientation relationship determination, phase identification, twinning, second phases, crystallographic information, dislocation, preferred orientation and texture, extra spots and streaks are described in detail. Finally, electron diffraction patterns of new materials are investigated

Relationship Between Self-differentiation in Bowen's family Therapy and Psychological Health

AbstractFamily is a multi-dimensional structure that has particular intricacies in its internal relationships which should be taken into account in the family studies. Differentiation is one of these intricacies that Bowen has established his Family Therapy Theory upon it. This study is aimed to consider the relationship between self-differentiation and psychological health. This study is a correlation study and the statistical population includes the clients of counseling centers of Tabriz city. To collect data, we used Differentiation of Self Inventory-2 (DSI-2) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) as instruments. Step by step Multiple Regression was used to analyze data. The findings indicates that there is a significantly positive relationship between self - differentiation and psychological health (P<0/001). Regarding to the findings, it could be concluded that those who apply appropriate Self-differentiation in their lives, they would have less psychological vulnerability comparing to the ones who lack Self-differentiation

Transmission Electron Microscopy of Nanomaterials

Structural and analytical characterization, in the nanometer scale, has become very important for all types of materials in recent years. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) is a perfect instrument for this purpose, which is summarized in this chapter. Parameters such as particle size, grain size, lattice type, morphological information, crystallographic details, chemical composition, phase-type, and distribution can be obtained by transmission electron micrographs. Electron diffraction patterns of nanomaterials are also used to acquire quantitative information containing size, phase identification, orientation relationship and crystal defects in the lattice structure, etc. In this chapter, typical electron diffraction, high-resolution transmission and scanning transmission electron microscope imaging in materials research, especially in the study of nanoscience are presented

Gaps in the provision of spiritual care for terminally ill patients in Islamic societies - a systematic review

Background. Islam has a profound concept about death and aftermath. Believing in living after death and resurrection is one of the three main principles of Islam. Since the increasing incidence of people in need of palliative care in developing countries and the fact that Muslims, who dominantly live in developing world, are very dependent on spirituality, describing the ways that spiritual care is described and provided in the Islamic context is highly demanded. This paper aims at delineating original research in this subject in a systematic manner. Method. Several medical databases were reviewed in a systematic manner to investigate original quantitative or qualitative researches about providing spiritual care in Muslim societies. Results. Searching main databases lead to identifying 84 articles alongside with 18 papers from hand searching, which all were reviewed by two investigators. Of this collection, only five papers met the criteria as being original research either quantitative or qualitative, published during the last 10 years. Cultural background plays an important role. Our findings conceded that very few papers are available in Islamic context about spiritual care at the end of life, where only three were quantitative. Research in this field, however, is rapidly growing compared with the previous year. Conclusion. While cancer is rapidly increasing specially in developing world, the need of terminally ill patients with other conditions should be equally considered. Spirituality in Islamic societies does exist profoundly, which needs more research especially in terminal life and even bereavement.Background. Islam has a profound concept about death and aftermath. Believing in living after death and resurrection is one of the three main principles of Islam. Since the increasing incidence of people in need of palliative care in developing countries and the fact that Muslims, who dominantly live in developing world, are very dependent on spirituality, describing the ways that spiritual care is described and provided in the Islamic context is highly demanded. This paper aims at delineating original research in this subject in a systematic manner. Method. Several medical databases were reviewed in a systematic manner to investigate original quantitative or qualitative researches about providing spiritual care in Muslim societies. Results. Searching main databases lead to identifying 84 articles alongside with 18 papers from hand searching, which all were reviewed by two investigators. Of this collection, only five papers met the criteria as being original research either quantitative or qualitative, published during the last 10 years. Cultural background plays an important role. Our findings conceded that very few papers are available in Islamic context about spiritual care at the end of life, where only three were quantitative. Research in this field, however, is rapidly growing compared with the previous year. Conclusion. While cancer is rapidly increasing specially in developing world, the need of terminally ill patients with other conditions should be equally considered. Spirituality in Islamic societies does exist profoundly, which needs more research especially in terminal life and even bereavement

Autonomous vehicles: challenges, opportunities, and future implications for transportation policies

This study investigates the challenges and opportunities pertaining to transportation policies that may arise as a result of emerging autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies. AV technologies can decrease the transportation cost and increase accessibility to low-income households and persons with mobility issues. This emerging technology also has far-reaching applications and implications beyond all current expectations. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the relevant literature and explores a broad spectrum of issues from safety to machine ethics. An indispensable part of a prospective AV development is communication over cars and infrastructure (connected vehicles). A major knowledge gap exists in AV technology with respect to routing behaviors. Connected-vehicle technology provides a great opportunity to implement an efficient and intelligent routing system. To this end, we propose a conceptual navigation model based on a fleet of AVs that are centrally dispatched over a network seeking system optimization. This study contributes to the literature on two fronts: (i) it attempts to shed light on future opportunities as well as possible hurdles associated with AV technology; and (ii) it conceptualizes a navigation model for the AV which leads to highly efficient traffic circulations

Quantitative Modeling of the Equilibration of Two-Phase Solid-Liquid Fe by Atomistic Simulations on Diffusive Time Scales

In this paper, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations based on the modified-embedded atom method (MEAM) and a phase-field crystal (PFC) model are utilized to quantitatively investigate the solid-liquid properties of Fe. A set of second nearest-neighbor MEAM parameters for higherature applications are developed for Fe, and the solid-liquid coexisting approach is utilized in MD simulations to accurately calculate the melting point, expansion in melting, latent heat, and solid-liquid interface free energy, and surface anisotropy. The required input properties to determine the PFC model parameters, such as liquid structure factor and fluctuations of atoms in the solid, are also calculated from MD simulations. The PFC parameters are calculated utilizing an iterative procedure from the inputs of MD simulations. The solid-liquid interface free energy and surface anisotropy are calculated using the PFC simulations. Very good agreement is observed between the results of our calculations from MEAM-MD and PFC simulations and the available modeling and experimental results in the literature. As an application of the developed model, the grain boundary free energy of Fe is calculated using the PFC model and the results are compared against experiments