Urban mobility and freight distribution service: best practices and lessons learnt in the MEROPE Interreg III B project

MEROPE (Telematic instruments for innovative services for mobility and logistic in urban and metropolitan areas), an INTERREG III B MEDOCC (Western Mediterranean) area project, started in September 2002 and ended in October 2004. In particular MEROPE addressed axis 3 - Transport Systems and Information Society; Measure 3.4 - Innovative communication and information technologies for the development of the territory. MEROPE’s overall objective was to investigate and develop evaluation models and telematic instruments to manage mobility and logistics in urban and metropolitan areas, in order to promote the development and application of innovative Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in support of integrated transport systems. A total of 14 cities were involved in the project, between them carrying out 9 study projects and 7 demonstration projects oriented towards the analysis and definition of mobility, transport and logistics chain features, with particular attention to their impacts in terms of environment, sustainability and competitiveness. This paper presents the development of the Merope project both at interregional level and in terms of the work carried out in each local site. Rather that a straightforward description of the work, however, it concentrates largely on an analysis of the project’s best practices and added value. As the project is now closed both in terms of activities and financial management, its current importance lies in its sustainability and transferability. Thus this paper will analyse the innovative actions carried out in Merope, within the general economic, social and political context of mobility and logistics, in order to identify what Merope has brought to the sector and what indeed remains to be done

Multi-services agency for the integrated management of mobility and of accessibility to transport services

AGATA (Multi-services agency based on telecommunication centres for the integrated management of mobility and of accessibility to transport services) is an INTERREG III B MEDOCC area project, which began in July 2004 and will last until June 2006. The AGATA consortium of 8 partners from 3 European countries (Italy, Spain and Portugal) and one South Mediterranean country (Morocco), works towards the development of a multi-service agency which coordinates flexible transport and mobility services in urban and rural areas. This agency will be based on modern information and communication technologies, and composed of a network of services facilitating interactions between actors and agency. The project represents an example of transfer from the world of research to public administrations and transport companies, based on IST IV FP projects. AGATA’s goals are: successful undertaking of feasibility studies and pilot projects, the results of which will be widely diffused, exchange of experiences and best practices, identification of a business model for an ICT based telecommunication centre. AGATA was born in a context of growing mobility problems which this paper considers before going on to describe various different actions (studies, pilot actions, experiences exchange, results diffusion and promotion), which are currently being carried out both at a general project level and at a local level by the different partners. The results of these actions should in theory have an impact on the local environment and on the issues of transport and mobility on a wider scale. This paper shows the expected results and evaluation techniques and the possible future of such initiatives in political and financial terms

The pivotal role of Public Transport in designing the integration of mobility services and in operating MaaS offer: the concept of Shared Mobility Centre and the experience of Arezzo

The paper identifies the emerging trends and requirements in the mobility demand and the gaps between them and the offer. The paper shows how Public Authorities and Mobility Operators should provide a seamless mobility offer able to answer to mobility demand which is becoming more flexible and varied in typologies and needs. Public Transport must be the backbone of this integrated mobility offer including conventional services for main urban axes/corridors and FTS/ridesharing services for feeder, last mile and target groups services. ITS for Public Transport are the base systems to provide MaaS and Public Transport Operators should leader MaaS initiatives. Central role in the MaaS initiative must be allocated to Shared Mobility Centre as “umbrella” platform/organization able to coordinate conventional different transport services in a seamless mobility offer (from planning to operation to back-office functionalities interesting both Operators and Authorities). The experience of MaaS activated/under development in the city of Arezzo will be the opportunity to highlight some critical factors that must be guaranteed as supporting actions for MaaS

The role of logistics services in smart cities: the experience of ENCLOSE project

Freight transport is one of the primary components of the economic and social system not only in European towns. It is now widely recognised that sustainable goods distribution, particularly in urban areas and city centres (indicated also as City Logistics), is the objective to be achieved as environmental issues play an increasingly dominant role in the overall mobility governance and also in the emerging “smart city” initiatives. Of course there is a link between transport efficiency and infrastructures, but traffic congestion in urban areas and city centres can be reduced also by efficient freight distribution processes based innovative organizational and business models. In EU, the interest in city logistics solutions, is growing among Local Authorities, not only for more efficient and higher quality services and traffic congestion reduction but also for achieving an increased territory governance. A significant number of real applications have implemented in many EU towns and under EU programmes with an emerging city logistics approach indicated as SULP (Sustainable Urban Logistics Plan) based an appropriate mix of different measures to be selected among different already demonstrated services like: Urban Consolidation Centres, optimised urban freight transport and delivery plans, clean vehicles and low emission technologies, restrictions and public incentive policies, ICT platform, last mile and value added services, etc. The SULP is the tool with related guidelines for integrating the city logistics processes within the overall management of urban mobility currently indicated at European level as Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan - SUMP. In this context ENCLOSE Project, started in May 2012 under IEE - Intelligent Energy Europe programme, has the main objective of raising awareness about the challenges of energy efficient and sustainable urban logistics in European Small-/Mid-size Historic Towns (SMHTs) and about the concrete opportunities to achieve highly significant improvements and benefits by implementing and operating suitable and effective measures, schemes and framework approaches specifically targeted to such class of urban environments. ENCLOSE Project aims to develop Sustainable Urban Logistics Plans (SULP) for Small-/Mid-size towns (SMTs) integrated in Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMP)

From the Concept of Flexible Mobility Services to the ‘Shared Mobility Services Agency’

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This research was supported by the Research Councils UK Digital Economy programme award (reference: EP/G066051/1) to the dot.rural Digital Economy Hub, at the University of AberdeenPostprin

Unusual Development of Iatrogenic Complex, Mixed Biliary and Duodenal Fistulas Complicating Roux-en-Y Antrectomy for Stenotic Peptic Disease of the Supraampullary Duodenum Requiring Whipple Procedure: An Uncommon Clinical Dilemma

Complex fistulas of the duodenum and biliary tree are severe complications of gastric surgery. The association of duodenal and major biliary fistulas occurs rarely and is a major challenge for treatment. They may occur during virtually any kind of operation, but they are more frequent in cases complicated by the presence of difficult duodenal ulcers or cancer, with a mortality rate of up to 35%. Options for treatment are many and range from simple drainage to extended resections and difficult reconstructions. Conservative treatment is the choice for well-drained fistulas, but some cases require reoperation. Very little is known about reoperation techniques and technical selection of the right patients. We present the case of a complex iatrogenic duodenal and biliary fistula. A 42-year-old Caucasian man with a diagnosis of postoperative peritonitis had been operated on 3 days earlier; an antrectomy with a Roux-en-Y reconstruction for stenotic peptic disease was performed. Conservative treatment was attempted with mixed results. Two more operations were required to achieve a definitive resolution of the fistula and related local complications. The decision was made to perform a pancreatoduodenectomy with subsequent reconstruction on a double jejunal loop. The patient did well and was discharged on postoperative day 17. In our experience pancreaticoduodenectomy may be an effective treatment of refractory and complex iatrogenic fistulas involving both the duodenum and the biliary tree

The Maugeri daily activity profile: a tool to assess physical activity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) report reduced physical activity (PA). There are only few tools available to assess PA and sedentary behavior in these patients, and none of them aims to differentiate between sedentary and active patterns. The aim of the study was to evaluate an easy tool to profile daily activity time in a cohort of patients with COPD, compared to healthy subjects; the study was set at the Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri (ICS), IRCCS of Tradate and Lumezzane, Italy, and at the Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale Novaggio, Switzerland (Italian Speaking). The populations were inpatients with COPD, healthy subjects. The items of the Maugeri Daily Activity (MaDA) profile were chosen based on literature, interviews with patients and health professionals. Time spent during sleep (ST), when awake (AT), active (ACT) or in sedentary behavior (SET) were recorded. Lung function tests, arterial blood gases, the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC), the six-minute walking distance test (6MWD), the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and the body-mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity (BODE) index were also assessed in patients. Sixty patients with COPD and 60 healthy controls filled in the questionnaire. As compared to controls, patients showed longer AT and SET. Active time of patients was significantly correlated with mMRC, CAT, Bode Index and 6MWD, but not with demographics, anthropometrics or stages of disease. Using this tool, we found that patients with COPD spent longer time awake and in sedentary behavior. The MaDA may be useful to evaluate PA in patients with COPD

Long-acting bronchodilators improve Health Related Quality of Life in patients with COPD

Summary Background Long-acting bronchodilators are first-line treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and their efficacy on lung function and clinical parameters is recognized. Objective To explore the available evidence about the effects of long acting bronchodilators on Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and Health Status (HS) in clinical research. Methods Randomized controlled trials published till December 2012 evaluating HRQoL/HS in COPD by means of validated questionnaires were analysed. Results Fifty-one trials on Long acting β 2 agonist (LABA) and Long acting Anticholinergic (LAMA) met the inclusion criteria. A total of 37,225 moderate-severe COPD patients testing 6 drugs, 12 different devices and 22 different dosages, with a study duration ranging from 4 weeks to 4 years were studied. A statistical significant HRQoL/HS improvement was reached in 93% of the studies. Nevertheless, the Minimal Important Difference (MID) was reached in 70,6% of the studies considering the difference between baseline and end of the study, and in 50% when comparing active treatment and placebo. Conclusions The data coming from the review support the efficacy of long acting bronchodilators in improving HRQoL/HS of COPD patients. Further research evaluating HRQoL/HS as primary outcome and according to guidelines on Patient Reported Outcomes is needed

Lunar Gravitational-Wave Antenna

Monitoring of vibrational eigenmodes of an elastic body excited by gravitational waves was one of the first concepts proposed for the detection of gravitational waves. At laboratory scale, these experiments became known as resonant-bar detectors first developed by Joseph Weber in the 1960s. Due to the dimensions of these bars, the targeted signal frequencies were in the kHz range. Weber also pointed out that monitoring of vibrations of Earth or Moon could reveal gravitational waves in the mHz band. His Lunar Surface Gravimeter experiment deployed on the Moon by the Apollo 17 crew had a technical failure rendering the data useless. In this article, we revisit the idea and propose a Lunar Gravitational-Wave Antenna (LGWA). We find that LGWA could become an important partner observatory for joint observations with the space-borne, laser-interferometric detector LISA, and at the same time contribute an independent science case due to LGWA's unique features. Technical challenges need to be overcome for the deployment of the experiment, and development of inertial vibration sensor technology lays out a future path for this exciting detector concept.Comment: 29 pages, 17 figure