Effects Of Different Forms Research Articles

Health insurance and Out of Pocket health care expenditure in Kenya

Aim/purpose – The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of health insurance on Out-of-Pocket (OOP) health care expenditure in Kenya. It is informed by persistence in the challenges of access and utilization of quality and affordable health care services. Previously, researchers have estimated the effects of different forms of health care fi- nancing on its demand and shown that affordability not only enhances access and use of health services but also cushions people against adverse financial risks associated with catastrophic health care spending. Design/methodology/approach – The study used the Kenya Household Health Expenditure and Utilization Survey (KHHEUS) 2013 data, and employed the two-part model estimation approach. The sample size considered in the estimation was 6,961 with the unit of analysis being an individual household member. Findings – The overall results of this study showed that having a health insurance cover did not exclude one from using OOP payments. However, the probability of such spend- ing was low for people with insurance compared to those without insurance. Additionally, if any cash was paid for any health care service, having insurance did not have a significant effect on the level of that spending. Research implications/limitations – The findings of this study imply that uptake of health insurance does not fully cushion people from both using cash payments when seek- ing health services and ramifications of catastrophic health care spending. The study how- ever, encountered challenges of unavailability of more recent data in the KHHEUS series. In addition, the sample size was relatively small to the population after data cleaning. Originality/value/contribution – Potential effect of health insurance on OOP health care payments had not been explored in Kenya. As such, this study filled this gap. In addition, the two-part model estimation technique was also employed with the latest household health survey data. Keywords: health insurance, Out-of-Pocket, health care, two-part model, Kenya. JEL Classification: I13, I14.

Effectiveness of sunscreens and factors influencing sun protection: a review

The effectiveness of sun protection depends directly on the photo-protective product employed, the way it is used and the amount applied. Many studies report that sunscreens are often applied incorrectly, at amounts much lower than those recommended for the sun protection factor (SPF) specified on the label. When not used properly, the effectiveness of the product against sun exposure damage is reduced. Currently, sunscreens are available in a variety of different formulations and types, such as stick (bar), aerosol, cream, lotion, oil, tanning formulations and makeup. However, developing an effective stable photo-protective formula that can be correctly applied regardless of type poses a challenge, as effectiveness is dependent on several factors. Factors influencing effectiveness include sun exposure conditions (direct or indirect), level of protection (SPF), amount of product applied, maximum exposure period before reapplication, product type (spray, lotion, etc.), layer thickness required, coverage, and ability to spread and permeate into the skin. Studies comparing the effectiveness of different forms of sunscreens, the amount of product applied by consumers and SPF and UVA protection determined by validated methodologies, are lacking. Therefore, the objective of this study was to review the available literature on the topic and discuss the effectiveness of sunscreen formulations and factors influencing sun protection. This review was carried out on the scientific databases MEDLINE, PubMed and Scielo. Of the many publications retrieved, thirty-nine articles most relevant for this review were selected.

Emergency Liquidity Injections

This paper compares the effectiveness of different forms of emergency liquidity injections, including secured lending (repo), unsecured lending and securities purchases. The model features an endogenous banking crisis, funding and market liquidity interactions, and fire sale externalities. Injection policies are compared by their effects on ex ante incentives and on ex post outcomes. The model demonstrates that lending to banks via repo can curb fire selling of relatively illiquid securities that are accepted as collateral, due to binding collateral constraints. The mitigated securities price depression, relative to an unsecured lending policy, counteracts the effects of fire sale externalities. This reduces banks' losses on illiquid securities without incentivising more liquidity risk-taking. Under an unsecured or secured lending policy, the authority can charge 'penalty rates' to deter liquidity risk-taking, but to be credible, lending should be long term so that repayments are due after liquidity conditions improve. Otherwise, the repayments can cause further liquidity distress, compromising the policy objectives. Liquidity injections via securities purchases cannot credibly be penalising, because the policy does not require banks to commit future income.

Morphophysiological response of young Frantoio olive tree under different fertilizer types in sierozem with surface drip irrigation

The amount of yield and adaptation of a cultivar to a new environment is strongly related to nutrient uptake ability. This study was carried out during 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons to investigate the effect of different forms of chemical compose 20.20.20 fertilization alone or incombination with other fertilizers on morphological plant parameters (number of leaves per shoot, stem length and stem thickness) and leaf nutrient contents (N, P, K and Mg) of young Frantoio olive tree grown in Turkestan region, South Kazakhstan. The study was conducted on 1 years old olive trees of Frantoio in sierozem, under surface drip irrigation, system and uniform in shape and received the common horticultural practices. It was determined that fertilizer treatments significantly influenced number of morphological plant parameters and leaf plant nutrients compared to control treatments at all seasons. Results revealed that all fertilizers as well as the combination between 20.20.20 and Biohumus treatment and/or Nitroammophos treatment significantly increased morphological plant parameters and nutrient contents of young Frantoio olive trees. It can be concluded that the variation in the nutrient uptake ability may be used as a criterion for adaptation of a variety to a new ecological environment.

Epigenetic Mechanisms in Understanding Nanomaterial-Induced Toxicity.

The toxic effects of different forms of nanomaterials comprise a series of biological effects such as oxidative stress; DNA damage; inflammatory response; activation of nuclear transcription factors. Some of these are key characteristics of human carcinogens and have been considered for hazard identification of nanomaterials. In addition, epigenetic changes also play a key role in the multi-step sequential process of carcinogenesis. Epigenetic modifications may constitute changes in DNA methylation, histone modifications (methylation, acetylation etc), and changes in non-coding RNA, leading to an altered gene expression profile. In this chapter, we describe the state-of-the-art of epigenetic modifications induced by different nanomaterials, from a limited number of in vitro- in vivo and human studies, a majority of which is primarily focused on DNA methylation. We also highlight the potential challenges and future directions in the field of epigenetics research in nanomaterial toxicology.

Merging pruning and neuroevolution: towards robust and efficient controllers for modular soft robots

AbstractArtificial neural networks (ANNs) can be employed as controllers for robotic agents. Their structure is often complex, with many neurons and connections, especially when the robots have many sensors and actuators distributed across their bodies and/or when high expressive power is desirable. Pruning (removing neurons or connections) reduces the complexity of the ANN, thus increasing its energy efficiency, and has been reported to improve the generalization capability, in some cases. In addition, it is well-known that pruning in biological neural networks plays a fundamental role in the development of brains and their ability to learn. In this study, we consider the evolutionary optimization of neural controllers for the case study of Voxel-based soft robots, a kind of modular, bio-inspired soft robots, applying pruning during fitness evaluation. For a locomotion task, and for centralized as well as distributed controllers, we experimentally characterize the effect of different forms of pruning on after-pruning effectiveness, life-long effectiveness, adaptability to new terrains, and behavior. We find that incorporating some forms of pruning in neuroevolution leads to almost equally effective controllers as those evolved without pruning, with the benefit of higher robustness to pruning. We also observe occasional improvements in generalization ability.

A perspective review on the effect of different forms of zinc on poultry production of poultry with special reference to the hazardous effects of misuse

AbstractZinc (Zn) is a unique micro-mineral because it is an essential component in many enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, carbonic anhydrase, and alkaline phosphatase, as well as being important for regulation of proteins and lipids metabolism, and sex hormones. This mineral is applied in poultry production in three forms; inorganic, organic, and nanoparticle form. The nano-form of Zn is preferable in application to other conventional forms with regard to absorption, bioavailability, and efficacy. Broilers fed on diets supplemented with Zn showed improvement of growth performance, carcass meat yield, and meat quality. In addition, Zn plays an important role in enhancing of both cellular and humeral immune responses, beside its antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. In laying hens, dietary addition of Zn improves the eggshell quality and the quantity of eggs. Moreover, Zn has a vital role in breeders in terms of improving the egg production, fertility, hatchability, embryonic development, and availability of the hatched chicks. Therefore, this review article is focused on the effects of using Zn on the performance and immunity of poultry, as well as its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties with special reference to the hazardous effects of the misusing of this mineral.

Tocotrienols protect differentiated SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced cytotoxicity by ameliorating dopamine biosynthesis and dopamine receptor D2 gene expression

Oxidative stress is a critical factor that triggers a “domino” cascade of events leading to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson disease. Tocotrienols (T3) have antioxidant effects and can protect neuronal cells against oxidative damage. In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of different forms of T3 (alpha, delta, gamma) or tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) against 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced oxidative damage in differentiated SH-SY5Y human neural cells. Differentiating the SH-SY5Y cells with retinoic acid and a low-serum culture medium for 6 days allowed development of human dopamine-like neural cells. Subsequently, the differentiated SH-SY5Y neural cells were pretreated with different forms of T3 for 24 hours before these cells were exposed to 6-OHDA. The T3 analogues and TRF displayed neuroprotective effects (P < .05) via restoration of cell viability and activation of antioxidant enzymes (e.g., superoxide dismutase, catalase). Notably, TRF was highly efficient in scavenging reactive oxygen species and upregulating dopamine and tyrosine hydroxylase levels in the differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Gamma-T3 exhibited the most potent effects in attenuating apoptosis, whereas alpha-T3 was most effective in preventing 6-OHDA-induced leakage of α-Synuclein. Delta-T3 displayed a noticeable effect in upregulating the dopamine receptor D2 gene expression compared with controls. These findings suggest T3 isoforms and TRF demonstrate significant neuroprotective effects in protecting differentiated neural cells against 6-OHDA-mediated oxidative stress.

Experimental study of heat transfer of impinging swirling jets and jets with chevrons

The aim of this work is to study the effect of different forms of passive change in the shape of the flow on the intensity of heat transfer in the impact jet. In this work, a cycle of experiments was performed to investigate an axisymmetric jet flowing normally onto a heated surface. The jet was located both in natural conditions and during swirling of the flow (S = 0.4; 0.7; 1.0). It is shown that the intensity of heat transfer on a heated target in the case of a chevrons jet has little effect on the character, but significantly intensifies heat transfer. In the case of a swirling jet, the intensity distribution on the wall changes its character and locally increases at small distances between the nozzle and the heater.

Cognitive decline in possible vascular cognitive impairment (VCI): Does the form of vascular brain injury matter?

AbstractBackgroundPatients presenting at a memory clinic with possible VCI include a heterogeneous population in terms of cognitive profile, vascular brain injury and prognosis. Little is known about the trajectories of cognitive decline on cognitive test performance in relation to the different forms of vascular brain injury.MethodWe included 474 memory clinic patients(age 68(±8.2) years, 44% female, mean MMSE 25.9(±2.9), 212(44.7%) patients with dementia) from the prospective TRACE‐VCI cohort study with possible VCI; cognitive complaints and vascular brain injury on MRI. We assessed cognitive functioning at baseline and follow‐up(mean follow‐up time 2.5(±1.4) years, total of 1176 neuropsychological tests) including the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test(RAVLT) immediate and delayed recall(memory), the Trail Making Test(TMT) A and B(attention and executive functioning, respectively), category fluency(language) and MMSE. Linear mixed models were used to evaluate the effect of different forms of vascular brain injury on cognitive decline. Models included(dichotomized) terms for vascular brain injury(infarct(s), lacune(s), white matter hyperintensities(WMH), microbleed(s)), time and vascular brain injury*time. All models were adjusted for sex, age, diagnosis (dementia versus no dementia), education and medial temporal lobe atrophy(MTA) score(dichotomized as ≥1.5). Also, the models were evaluated in patients with a positive(+CSF‐AD) and negative(‐CSF‐AD) biomarker CSF Alzheimer profile.ResultVascular brain injury(multiple forms in one patient possible) consisted of infarct(s) in 54(11.4%), lacune(s) in 108(22.8%), moderate/severe WMH in 212(44.7%) and microbleed(s) in 203(42.8%) patients. In 164(54.3%) patients the MTA score was ≥1.5. We found no association between any form of vascular brain injury and baseline cognition. Infarct(s) showed an association with worsening on the TMTB(β;30.19,p=.00), especially in patients with a –CSF‐AD(β;65.93,p=.00). This effect was not found in patients with a +CSF‐AD(β;‐25.24,p=.18). Lacune(s) were associated with a rate of decline in immediate memory(β;1.62), delayed recall(β;.33), category fluency(β;.44) and MMSE(β;.46;all p&lt;0.05). Infarct(s) were associated with a slower rate of decline on category fluency(β;.96,p=.01). We found no association between WMH, microbleed(s) and rate of cognitive decline.ConclusionIn patients with possible VCI, infarct(s) were associated with steeper decline in executive functioning, especially in patients with a –CSF‐AD. Counterintuitively, the presence of lacune(s) and infarct(s) predisposed for a more favorable trajectory in memory.

Ammonium has stronger Cd detoxification ability than nitrate by reducing Cd influx and increasing Cd fixation in Solanum nigrum L.

Cadmium (Cd) is a harmful heavy metal that affects the growth and development of plants. Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for plants, and appropriate N management can improve Cd tolerance. The aim of our study was to explore the effects of different forms of N on the molecular and physiological responses of the hyperaccumulator Solanum nigrum to Cd toxicity. Measurement of biomass, photosynthetic parameters, and Cd2+ fluxes using non-invasive micro-test technique, Cd fluorescent dying, biochemical methods and quantitative real-time PCR analysis were performed in our study. Our results showed that ammonium (NH4+) has stronger Cd detoxification ability than nitrate (NO3-), which are likely attributed to the following three reasons: (1) NH4+ decreased the influx and accumulation of Cd2+ by regulating the transcription of Cd transport-related genes; (2) the ameliorative effects of NH4+ were accompanied by the increased retention of Cd in the cell walls of roots; and (3) NH4+ up-regulated SnExp expression.

Modeling of integrated heat‐electricity systems considering integrated demand response and dynamic behaviors of district heating network

With increasing renewable energy integrated to the integrated energy systems (IESs), the dynamic characteristics and coupling effects of different forms of energy need to be taken into consideration. Dynamic behaviors of heating systems are not well captured by the traditional steady-state models of integrated heat-electricity systems (IHESs). As integrated demand response (IDR) technology is widely used in IHESs, it is of great significance to establish the models of IHESs considering demand side management and dynamic behaviors of district heating network (DHN). Firstly, in order to accurately reflect the real-time operation of the systems, a modeling method of IHESs containing source, network, and load is proposed. Then, based on the dynamic model of each equipment in the DHN and the demand response of multiple types of loads, a multi-energy flow dynamic model considering IDR and dynamic behaviors of DHN is proposed. In this paper, the models of the equipment are integrated under a unified framework, and a coordinated control model of the IHES is given, which aims to realize the economic operation of the system. Finally, the system model is placed in different scenarios for simulation. The results verify the dynamic characteristics of the DHN, and prove that the control strategy design for the IHES can help to improve the wind power consumption capacity and reduce costs.

Thermoelastic behavior of an isotropic solid sphere under a non-uniform heat flow according to the MGT thermoelastic model

Moore-Gibson-Thompson (MGT) is an equation which appropriately describes the spread of sound waves in gasses and fluids as well as thermal/mechanical waves in elastic bodies. The objective of this article is to theoretically analyze the generalized thermoelasticity models that have been presented as the development of the Fourier’s law dealing with the paradox of unlimited propagation velocities of thermal waves. For this purpose, a new model is presented which combines the third type of Green and Naghdi model (GN-III) with the generalized theory including the relaxation time based on the MGT equation. The proposed model may be considered as a generalization of previous thermoelastic theories. To examine the introduced approach, the behavior of thermoelastic waves within a homogeneous isotropic sphere in which its surface is exposed to thermal shock with varying heat source is investigated. The variations in different physical fields of a given substance have been computed by means of Laplace transform technique and an efficient numerical technique is implemented in Laplace inversion procedure. The effect of different forms of heat source are also examined and several comparisons for various thermoelasticity approaches are comprehensively conducted.

Effects of hydronium and hydroxide ion/group on oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalytic activities of N-doped graphene quantum dots

In this work, density functional theory (DFT) is used to investigate the effects of different forms of H3O+, OH–, H3O and OH on oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalytic properties of graphene quantum dots (GQDs). The ORR catalytic activity can be enhanced by ligand functionalization of graphitic N-doped GQDs (gN-GQDs) with H3O and OH. The electrocatalytic activities of different ions/groups on GQDs are different for the presence of ions/groups can rearrange the electronic structure of doped GQDs. The ORR overpotentials of gN-GQDs with H3O+, OH–, H3O and OH are 1.49, 1.80, 0.69, and 0.83 V, respectively. The findings indicate that the adsorption of H3O on the surface of gN-GQDs has the best ORR catalytic performance and can effectively promote oxygen reduction reactions. Analyzing differential electron density illustrates that when H3O is adsorbed to gN-GQDs, the adsorption electron transfer of O2 is more obvious to facilitate the adsorption of O2. The results can reveal the influences of different ions/groups on ORR catalytic mechanisms of GQDs and provide guidance for the design of ORR electrocatalysts.

Investigating the associations between childhood trauma and cardiovascular health in midlife.

Growing evidence suggests that childhood trauma is associated with poorer cardiovascular health in adulthood, but few studies have examined potential mediators of these associations. We examined the links between different forms of childhood trauma (i.e., abuse, neglect, cumulative trauma) and cardiovascular health and explored potential mediators. Cross-sectional data from 1,251 participants in the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States' II Biomarker Project were analyzed. Path analyses were conducted to examine the associations between childhood trauma and cardiovascular health (i.e., American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 [LS7] score). Depressive symptoms and sleep quality were explored as potential mediators, and exploratory analyses examined whether these associations were moderated by sex. Women reported more severe childhood emotional and sexual abuse and emotional neglect, p<.001 to p=.018, and higher LS7 scores, p=.027, than men. Path analyses demonstrated the total effects of increasing severity of all forms of childhood trauma with LS7 scores were significant, and cumulative childhood trauma was inversely associated with LS7 score Bs=-0.306- -0.076, p<.001-p=.048. The range of total effects of different forms of childhood trauma on LS7 scores mediated by depressive symptoms and sleep quality was 26.8%-57.5%. Sex moderated the associations between all forms of childhood trauma and cardiovascular health. Longitudinal studies are needed that examine mediators of the associations between childhood trauma and cardiovascular health. Findings suggest sex-specific, trauma-informed approaches for cardiovascular disease prevention in adults exposed to childhood trauma may be needed.

Response of cyanobacterial bloom risk to nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in large shallow lakes determined through geographical detector: A case study of Taihu Lake, China

Understanding the sensitivity of the response of chlorophyll (Chla) to nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus) concentrations is important for predicting cyanobacterial bloom risk. However, the processes by which nutrients in lake that affect cyanobacterial growth and outbreaks are nonlinear, gradual and spatially and temporally heterogeneous, and the single response thresholds of concentrations between nutrients and the Chla proposed in current studies maybe hardly reflect these characteristics. Due to three decades of rapid regional socio-economic development, the eutrophication in Taihu Lake of China is serious and there are cyanobacterial blooms every year. In this study, we quantified the interaction effects of different forms of nitrogen and phosphorus on Chla concentrations in lake water and sediment pore water. And a refined response threshold range with continuous variation was proposed to characterize the relationship between the Chla concentration and the NH4-N, total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations. The results showed that TP was the dominant factor influencing the spatial variation of cyanobacteria blooms in most areas of Taihu Lake, followed by TN. TP should therefore be the highest priority for future pollution load reduction in Taihu Lake. The effects of the interactions between the pollution factors were greater than the sum of them individually. NH4-N and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) are likely to be preferentially consumed by algae for growth and should be the focus of nutrient control efforts in Taihu Lake. For cyanobacterial risk prediction, prevention and control, NH4-N, TN and TP concentrations of 0.06 mg/L, 2.89 mg/L and 0.06 mg/L, respectively, can be used to indicate the beginning of cyanobacterial blooms in Taihu Lake, and concentrations of 0.34 mg/L, 4.67 mg/L and 0.11 mg/L, respectively, can be used as reference thresholds to indicate serious cyanobacterial blooms.

Noncompliance and Instrumental Variables for 2 K Factorial Experiments

Factorial experiments are widely used to assess the marginal, joint, and interactive effects of multiple concurrent factors. While a robust literature covers the design and analysis of these experiments, there is less work on how to handle treatment noncompliance in this setting. To fill this gap, we introduce a new methodology that uses the potential outcomes framework for analyzing factorial experiments with noncompliance on any number of factors. This framework builds on and extends the literature on both instrumental variables and factorial experiments in several ways. First, we define novel, complier-specific quantities of interest for this setting and show how to generalize key instrumental variables assumptions. Second, we show how partial compliance across factors gives researchers a choice over different types of compliers to target in estimation. Third, we show how to conduct inference for these new estimands from both the finite-population and superpopulation asymptotic perspectives. Finally, we illustrate these techniques by applying them to a field experiment on the effectiveness of different forms of get-out-the-vote canvassing. New easy-to-use, open-source software implements the methodology. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.

Effect of Whole or Ground Flaxseed Supplementation on Fatty Acid Profile, Fermentation, and Bacterial Composition in Rumen of Dairy Cows.

Flaxseed is rich in α-linolenic acid (ALA) and can increase omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid in the milk of dairy cows. However, the response of rumen fermentation to different forms of flaxseed supplementation is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different forms of flaxseed on the fatty acid profile, fermentation, and composition of bacteria in the rumen of dairy cows. In total, 30 Holstein dairy cows were selected and randomly assigned into three groups (10/group). Cows were fed a basal diet (control check; CK) or basal diets supplemented with either 1,500 g per day whole flaxseed (WF) or 1,500 g per day ground flaxseed (GF). The WF group had the highest ALA content in rumen fluid, whereas no difference was found between the CK and GF groups. However, the molar proportion of acetate increased in the WF and GF groups and was the highest in the GF group, and a similar trend was shown by propionate, isobutyrate, butyrate, isovalerate, and valerate (CK < WF < GF). The abundance of Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, and Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group also showed the same trend (CK < WF < GF). Different forms of flaxseed release ALA by different mechanisms in the rumen, and the molar proportions of volatile fatty acids and the bacterial composition were potentially influenced mainly by the amount of ALA released into the rumen.

Violence and Voting in the United States: How School Shootings Affect Elections

How do citizens change their voting decisions after their communities experience catastrophic violent events? The literature on the behavioral effects of violence, on the one hand, and on political behavior, on the other, suggest different answers to this question. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we investigate the influence of indiscriminate, rampage-style school shootings on both voter turnout levels and the relative electoral support for the Democratic and Republican Parties at the county level in US presidential elections (1980–2016). We find that although voter turnout does not change, the vote share of the Democratic Party increases by an average of nearly 5 percentage points in counties that experienced shootings—a remarkable shift in an age of partisan polarization and close presidential elections. These results show that school shootings do have important electoral consequences and bring to the fore the need to further examine the effects of different forms of violence on political behavior.

Simulation of dispersion effects by considering interactions of pedestrians and bicyclists using an agent space model

As the number of bicyclists in urban areas continues to increase, the need to realistically model the movement and interactions of bicyclists in mixed urban traffic is rapidly gaining importance. Therefore, this paper presents an agent space model (ASM) to elucidate the movements of bicyclists and pedestrians on shared roads. The ASM model, via simulation, particularly illustrates the dispersion phenomenon observed for non-motorized road users. The mutual interactions and diverse bicyclist and pedestrian properties were also incorporated into this model. The mutual interactions were realised through agent spaces of different sizes in conflict and overtaking behaviours for the following combinations: bicyclist-to-pedestrian, bicyclist-to-bicyclist, pedestrian-to-bicyclist, and pedestrian-to-pedestrian, which were obtained through experiments. The hypothesis test indicated that different agent spaces exist for different types of interactions. The experimental data were used to obtain several variables that describe the elements of road user agent spaces, including longitudinal and lateral distances and the dynamic relationship between the longitudinal distance and speed. The simulation results indicated that with an increase in the number of pedestrians, the maximum capacity decreased and the dispersion degree increased. The following psychological and physiological factors affect the degree of dispersion of bicyclists: travelling speed, reaction time, intensity, probability of selecting the head-on direction, and probability of selecting the right-hand direction. In addition, lane formation was observed in all simulations. The results also demonstrated that dedicated bicycle lanes will significantly reduce the dispersion degree. Moreover, the safety and efficiency effects of different forms of bicycle lanes were analysed from the perspective of the degree of dispersion. The simulation results can provide specific guidelines for understanding the causes of phenomena such as dispersion and lane formation, as well as for studying the traffic dynamics, effects of dedicated bicycle lanes, and macroscopic characteristics according to different bicyclist-pedestrian ratios.