A mixed behavioural and data-driven method for assessing the shift potential to electric micromobility: evidence from Rome

Electric micromobility, both as a private option and as a shared service, can represent an alternative to cars, particularly for given user groups (market segments) and specific classes of travel distance. The paper explores the potential for shifting from cars to electric micromobility (specifically, e-bikes and e-scooters) for commuting trips, investigated through floating car data (FCD). The methodology combines the calibration of random utility models (RUMs) and the subsequent simulation through the adoption of FCD spanning the entire city of Rome (Italy). The data used for the calibration of RUM models have been sourced from an online revealed preferences and stated preferences survey carried out between November 2020 and January 2021. Socioeconomic factors, along with transport features (travel time, access time, monetary costs, and perceived safety levels), enter into the definition of the mode choice probability. The first results showed that in Rome, the potential demand for electric micromobility could range between 14% of the FCD sample in the best case (low cost, high accessibility, and road infrastructures with a high perceived level of safety) and about 2% in the worst case (high cost, low accessibility, and a low perceived level of safety)

Lactic acid bacteria: Variability due to different pork breeds, breeding systems and fermented sausage production technology

Changes in the ecology of the various lactic acid bacteria (LAB) species, which are involved in traditional fermented sausages, were investigated in the light of the use of different breeds of pork, each of which was raised in two different environments and processed using two different technologies. The semi-quantitative molecular method was applied in order to understand how the different species alternate over time, as well as their concentration ratios. A significant increase in LAB over the first days of fermentation characterized the trials where the starter culture wasn\u2019t added (T), reaching values of 107\u2013108 cfu g 121. On the other hand, in the trials in which sausages were produced with starter addition, LAB counts had a less significant incremental jump from about 106 cfu g 121 (concentration of the inoculum) to 108 cfu g 121. Lactobacillus sakei and Lb. curvatus were detected as the prevalent population in all the observed fermentations. Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lb. casei, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactococcus garviae, and Lb. graminis also appeared, but their concentration ratios varied depending on the diverse experimental settings. The results of cluster analysis showed that a plant- and breed-specific LAB ecology exists. In addition, it was also observed that the breeding system can influence the presence of certain LAB species

The geometrical nature of optical resonances : from a sphere to fused dimer nanoparticles

We study the electromagnetic response of smooth gold nanoparticles with shapes varying from a single sphere to two ellipsoids joined smoothly at their vertices. We show that the plasmonic resonance visible in the extinction and absorption cross sections shifts to longer wavelengths and eventually disappears as the mid-plane waist of the composite particle becomes narrower. This process corresponds to an increase of the numbers of internal and scattering modes that are mainly confined to the surface and coupled to the incident field. These modes strongly affect the near field, and therefore are of great importance in surface spectroscopy, but are almost undetectable in the far field

Assessing the opportunity offered by electric vehicles in performing service trips to end consumers

This paper proposes the assessment of the impacts of using electric vehicles for urban service trips. In particular, the focus is on trips performed for delivering and installing products, as well as for reverse logistics. Such components of commercial traffic in urban areas have not received the level of attention it deserves. In fact, recent research on commercial traffic mainly deals with shop restocking, service visits to establishments and e-commerce deliveries, and limited attention has been paid to the service sector (e.g., installation, maintenance, repairs) which can have a high impact on city sustainability in terms of pollution emissions, congestion as well as land use for parking. Furthermore, pushed by the current trend towards the promotion of electric vehicles, an assessment is developed comparing potential service patterns using real data from the inner area of Rome (Italy) when the electric fleet replaces the traditional one. Results show the opportunity to decouple the delivery operation from the installation one, and to integrate service with reverse logistics. These significant results could address the adoption of suitable integrated urban policies to make the most of the opportunities arising from the use of electric vehicles

Functional MR Imaging Correlates of Neuropsychological Impairment in Primary-Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cognitive deficits affect ≤30% of patients with PPMS. We investigated the functional correlates of cognitive network dysfunction in patients with PPMS and their correlation with the extent of structural MR imaging damage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 16 right-handed patients with PPMS and 17 matched controls, structural and fMRIs (during the performance of the 2-back task) were acquired. Neuropsychological tests exploring memory, attention, and frontal lobe cognitive domains were administered. T2 LL, NBV, and CC areas were measured. RESULTS: Six patients with PPMS were CI. Structural MR imaging measures did not differ between patients who were CI and those who were CP. Compared with patients who were CI, patients who were CP had increased activations of the left caudate nucleus, PFC, and inferior parietal lobule. Compared with controls and patients who were CP, patients who were CI had increased activations of the SII, cerebellum, and insula. Compared with controls, they also had increased activations of the right precentral gyrus and a reduced recruitment of the left PFC. In patients with PPMS, a decreased composite cognitive score correlated with increased activity of the cerebellum, insula, and SII, as well as decreased PFC activity. T2 LL correlated with decreased PFC recruitment and increased SII recruitment. CONCLUSIONS: In PPMS, an increased recruitment of cognitive-related networks might represent a functional reserve with the potential to limit the severity of cognitive impairment. The accumulation of T2 lesions and the consequent exhaustion of frontal lobe plasticity might contribute to cognitive impairment in PPMS

Polymorphisms in the dopaminergic receptor D3 gene correlate with disease progression rate in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis patients

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. In MS, disability progresses unpredictably. Dopamine (DA) is a modulator of immune functions, and compelling evidence supports its involvement in both pathogenesis and treatment of MS. Although single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in dopaminergic receptor (DR) genes have been extensively studied, their role in MS progression remains unexplored. Therefore, the aim of this explorative study is to investigate the potential association between functional SNPs in DR genes and MS progression. Methods: Caucasian patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) MS were enrolled, and disease progression assessed by the Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS). Results: Out of the 59 RRMS patients enrolled, those with the G/G genotype for rs6280 and rs1800828 SNPs in DRD3 showed significantly higher MSSSs compared to those with ancestral and heterozygous genotypes. Conclusions: If confirmed in a larger prospective study, the reported findings could contribute to a better understanding of MS pathophysiological mechanisms, opening the way for the identification of marker(s) for assessing MS progression as well as novel therapeutic strategies. A personalized approach to MS management has the potential to improve the overall well-being of MS patients and alleviate the burden on their caregivers

Leukocyte Counts and Ratios Are Predictive of Stroke Outcome and Hemorrhagic Complications Independently of Infections.

Background: Ischemic stroke patients show alterations in peripheral leukocyte counts that may result from the sterile inflammation response as well as the occurrence of early infections. We here aimed to determine whether alterations of circulating leukocytes in acute ischemic stroke are associated with long-term functional outcome and hemorrhagic complications, independently of the occurrence of infections. Methods: Blood laboratory values of patients with acute ischemic stroke, presenting within 4.5 h from symptom onset, were collected. Leukocyte subsets were analyzed in relation to 3-month functional outcome, mortality, and parenchymal hemorrhagic transformation (PH). A multivariable logistic regression analysis, considering the occurrence of early post-stroke infections, was performed for each outcome measure. Results: Five-hundred-ten patients were included in the study. Independently of infections, good functional outcome was associated with a lower neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NL-R, OR 0.906 [95% CI 0.822-0.998]), a higher lymphocyte count (OR 1.547 [95% CI 1.051-2.277]), a higher eosinophil count (OR 1.027 [95% CI 1.007-1.048]), and a higher eosinophil to leukocyte ratio (EoLeu-R, OR 1.240 [95% CI 1.071-1.436]) at admission. Death within 3 months was associated with higher NL-R (OR 1.103 [95% CI 1.032-1.179]) as well as with lower eosinophil counts (OR 0.909 [95% CI 0.827-0.999]). Patients developing parenchymal hemorrhagic transformation had higher neutrophil counts (OR 1.420 [95% CI 1.197-1.684]) as well as a higher NL-R (OR 1.192 [95% IC 1.088-1.305]). Conclusion: Leukocyte subtype profiles in the acute phase of ischemic stroke represent a predictor of outcome independently of infections. Stroke-evoked sterile inflammation is a pathophysiological relevant mechanism that deserves further investigation

Relativistic Partial Wave Analysis Using the Velocity Basis of the Poincare Group

The velocity basis of the Poincare group is used in the direct product space of two irreducible unitary representations of the Poincare group. The velocity basis with total angular momentum j will be used for the definition of relativistic Gamow vectors.Comment: 14 pages; revte

Effects of nucleotides administration on growth performance and immune response of post-weaning piglets

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of nucleotides administration on growth perform- ance and immune response in post-weaning piglets. Twenty-eight male weaned piglets, homo- geneous for age and weight were randomly allocated to two experimental treatments. Treated group (T) was daily orally administered 0.8g/head of a mixture of nucleotides suspended in 2.1 mL water solution; while control group (C) received 2.1 mL saline solution. Body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) were individually recorded weekly, while feed intake (FI), and gain:feed (G:F) were recorded and calculated on pen basis. Faecal score was evaluated every seven days. On day 0, 9, 18 and 27 blood samples were collected to determine IgA, IgG and haptoglobin concentration. At day 28 all piglets were sacrificed, and tissue samples of ileal Peyer\u2019s patches were collected for the evaluation of IL1a, IL1b, IL6, IL10, TNFa, TLR2, TLR4 and PPARc gene expression. Nucleotides supplementation significantly increased BW (17.37 vs. 19.00kg/pig; p 1\u20444 <.01), ADG (.351 vs. .400kg/d; p < .01), and FI (3.96 vs. 4.39kg/d; p < .01), but not G:F (.61 vs. .64; p 1\u20444 .29). Faecal consistency was not different between the experimental groups and no occurrence of diarrhoea was reported. IgA and IgG content in blood was not influenced by the treatment, as well as gene expression of inflammatory cytokines in Peyer\u2019s patches. The present trial shows that nucleotide administration is able to improve growth per- formance of post-weaning piglets, with no effects on inflammatory response and the expression of immune-related genes