A Bi-level Formulation for the Combined Dynamic Equilibrium based Traffic Signal Control

AbstractThis paper formulates the combined dynamic user equilibrium and signal control problem (DUESC) as a bi-level optimization problem. The signal control operator in the upper level optimizes the signal setting to minimize the system travel time whereas the road users in the lower level minimize their own costs (by changing departure times, paths or both) leading to dynamic user equilibrium behavior. Three components of the bi-level formulation are discussed including network loading model, the dynamic user equilibrium model and the signal control model. Then the combined problems are formulated as a Nash-Cournot game and a Stackelberg game. A solution technique based on the iterative optimization and assignment (IOA) method is proposed to solve the DUESC problem. We use the projection algorithm to solve the lower level and the mixed integer programming solver to solve the upper level. Extensive numerical results demonstrate the benefits of using this model

STR-846: METHODS OF COMPARING EXTREME LOAD EFFECTS BASED ON WEIGH-IN-MOTION DATA

The estimation of extreme load effects caused by vehicles is of critical importance in the evaluation and design of bridge structures. Two methods for estimating extreme load effects over the service life of bridges are commonly cited in literature: (1) the use of a fitted probability distribution based on statistical data to extrapolate the extreme load effects on a probability plot, or (2) the application of Monte Carlo simulation to generate representative truck data over a bridge’s lifespan such that maximum load effect values can then be determined directly. In this paper, results obtained using the two aforementioned methods are presented including their advantages and disadvantages in the context of the analysis of rural bridges in Saskatchewan. For this purpose, estimated load effects are based on truck data recorded over a period of one year at several weigh-in-motion (WIM) stations located on Saskatchewan highways. The conducted analyses are based on a typical bridge type common to rural Saskatchewan. It was found that the Monte Carlo simulation approach resulted in more reliable extreme load effect estimations, along with providing other information that is of value in the development of new truck loading models

Activation of EGFR, HER2 and HER3 by neurotensin/neurotensin receptor 1 renders breast tumors aggressive yet highly responsive to lapatinib and metformin in mice

A present challenge in breast oncology research is to identify therapeutical targets which could impact tumor progression. Neurotensin (NTS) and its high affinity receptor (NTSR1) are up regulated in 20% of breast cancers, and NTSR1 overexpression was shown to predict a poor prognosis for 5 year overall survival in invasive breast carcinomas. Interactions between NTS and NTSR1 induce pro-oncogenic biological effects associated with neoplastic processes and tumor progression. Here, we depict the cellular mechanisms activated by NTS, and contributing to breast cancer cell aggressiveness. We show that neurotensin (NTS) and its high affinity receptor (NTSR1) contribute to the enhancement of experimental tumor growth and metastasis emergence in an experimental mice model. This effect ensued following EGFR, HER2, and HER3 over-expression and autocrine activation and was associated with an increase of metalloproteinase MMP9, HB-EGF and Neuregulin 2 in the culture media. EGFR over expression ensued in a more intense response to EGF on cellular migration and invasion. Accordingly, lapatinib, an EGFR/HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor, as well as metformin, reduced the tumor growth of cells overexpressing NTS and NTSR1. All cellular effects, such as adherence, migration, invasion, altered by NTS/NTSR1 were abolished by a specific NTSR1 antagonist. A strong statistical correlation between NTS-NTSR1-and HER3 (p< 0.0001) as well as NTS-NTSR1-and HER3-HER2 (p< 0.001) expression was found in human breast tumors. Expression of NTS/NTSR1 on breast tumoral cells creates a cellular context associated with cancer aggressiveness by enhancing epidermal growth factor receptor activity. We propose the use of labeled NTS/NTSR1 complexes to enlarge the population eligible for therapy targeting HERs tyrosine kinase inhibitor or HER2 overexpression

Chemical Components of Essential Oils From the Leaves of Seven Species Belonging to Rutaceae Family from Binh Chau-Phuoc Buu Nature Reserve, Vietnam

Several plant species of the Rutaceae family are medicinal plants, oil bearing and food crops. To provide more information for utilization of some species of this family in Binh Chau-Phuoc Buu Nature Reserve, we extracted essential oils from the leaves of seven species of the Rutaceae family: Acronychia pedunculata (L.) Miq., Atalantia citroides Pierre ex Guillaumin, Clausena excavata Burm.f., Glycosmis pentaphylla (Retz.) DC., Luvunga scandens (Roxb.) Buch.-Ham. ex Wight & Arn, Melicope pteleifolia (Champ. ex Benth.) T.G. Hartley, and Micromelum sp., via hydrodistillation, and identified their components using GC/MS analysis. A total of 60 compounds were identified from essential oils of seven species. The main components of the essential oils isolated from five species, including A. pedunculata, C. excavata, M. pteleifolia, G. pentaphylla, and Micromelum sp., were caryophyllene (57.63% and 55.41% in A. pedunculata and C. excavata, respectively), 1,9-decadiyne (32.59%, M. pteleifolia), β-ocimene (23.10%, G. pentaphylla), and 3-carene (58.03%, Micromelum sp.). Additionally, this study revealed the chemical composition of essential oils of L. scandens and A. citroides for the first time. The main constituent of A. citroides was 7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0] heptane, 3-oxiranyl- (53.91%) and that of L. scandens was caryophyllene (34.66%). These findings provide the basis for further application of these species in medicine

Outcomes of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell administration in the treatment of neurologic sequelae in children with spina bifida

Background: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMNC) infusion in the management of neurological sequelae in children with spina bifida (SB). Methods: BMMNCs were harvested from bilateral anterior iliac crests. Two intrathecal BMMNC administrations were performed with an interval of 6 months. The measurements of outcomes included clinical assessments, cystomanometry and rectomanometry.Results: Eleven children with SB underwent autologous BMMNC infusions from 2016 to 2020. There were no severe adverse events during the study period. The number of patients requiring assistance to expel stools decreased from 11 before cell infusion to 3 after the second cell infusion. The number of patients who had urine leakage decreased from 9 patients at baseline to 3 patients after the second BMMNC infusion. The mean bladder capacity increased from 127.7 ± 59.2 ml at baseline to 136.3 ± 54.8 ml at six months and to 158.3 ± 56.2 ml at 12 months after BMMNC infusions. Detrusor pressure (pdet) decreased from 32.4 ± 22.0 cm H2O at baseline to 21.9 ± 11.8 cm H2O after 12 months of follow-up. At baseline, six patients could walk independently. After the 2nd infusion, eight patients could walk independently. Conclusion: Intrathecal infusions of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells are safe and may improve bowel, bladder, and motor function in children with SB. Trial registration: NCT, NCT05472428. Registered July 25, 2022- Retrospectively registered, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05472428

Organizational Culture : a case study of standard chartered (Vietnam) Ltd

The aim of this thesis is to understand the definition of organizational culture and examine organizational culture of Standard Chartered Bank (Vietnam) Ltd (SCB). Organizational culture has become a interesting topic. The company now are aware of its important role as a competitive advantage. The thesis will go though definitions of various researcher to find out the common understanding. A few methods of approaching organizational culture are considered to find a prooer framework for case study. Later on organizational culture of SCB will be studied by interviewing six members of the organization. The data then will be analyzed using Schein’s three levels of organizational culture: Artifacts, Espoused Beliefs and Value and Basic Assumption. The results of the study shows that SCB has a strong culture which expresses the core values that the bank has stated. The author expects that this study can be a review for the bank of its culture and to find out how to improve the culture as a competency

New Truck Loading Model For Rural Bridges In Saskatchewan

The abstract of this item is unavailable due to an embargo

Advances in dynamic network modeling with spatial queue based traffic flow models

Dynamic network modeling has been extensively explored by the research community for the last three decades due to the advances of emerging technologies and the availability of large-scale time-dependent data. The dynamic models can outperform the static models in many research areas such as operational planning and real-time operational control. However, there still exist several gaps in the analytical dynamic network modeling, including a) dynamic network loading models which facilitate dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) without compromising traffic realism, b) dynamic user equilibrium and dynamic system optimal with desirable features such as simultaneous route and departure time choice, multiple OD networks, solution existence, and efficient algorithms, c) methods to compute the network inefficiency and the price of anarchy in the dynamic context, and d) new models for dynamic mechanism design with advanced traffic flow and dynamic user equilibrium. The overall goal of this dissertation is to develop a series of analytical dynamic traffic assignment and dynamic mechanism design models to fill these gaps. The broaden impact of this dissertation is to provide a framework to predict traveler behavior, estimate traffic state, understand real-world and ideal network conditions, and suggest rational solutions to improve network performance. Specifically, in this dissertation: A dynamic network loading model is developed based on cell transmission model to captures realistic traffic conditions such as shockwave propagation, queue spill-back, FIFO, non-holding-back in multiple OD networks. It can be embedded directly in DTA formulations. A simultaneous route and departure time choice dynamic user equilibrium (DUE) problem for multiple OD networks is formulated as a complementarity system. The cost function is shown continuous and the solution existence is rigorously shown by advanced generalized variational inequality theory. An efficient projection algorithm is proposed to solve the DUE problems for medium-sized traffic networks. A dynamic system optimal (DSO) problem for multiple OD networks with route and departure time choice is formulated. A novel method to accurately compute path marginal cost is developed and the DSO problem is solved by the projection algorithm. The network inefficiency and price of anarchy are studied in dynamic networks to capture the trend of the relative difference between DUE and DSO solutions. For many traffic networks, we observe that the network inefficiency stabilizes after a certain demand level. A combined DUE and signal control problem is formulated as a Stackelberg game and is solved by the iterative optimization and assignment algorithm. Finally, a novel idea of path-based toll scheme is studied. We propose a heuristic algorithm to provide an incentive for travelers to avoid the congested paths and times, which improves the network performance

Rôle du complexe de la neurotensine NTS et son récepteur de haute affinité NTSR1 dans la croissance tumorale et l'émergence des métastases du cancer mammaire

Malgré de nouvelles thérapies et de la détection précoce, le cancer mammaire reste malheureusement la première cause de décès chez les femmes. L'identification des facteurs nocifs cellulaires sur la progression du cancer mammaire est donc d'une importance primordiale. Il a largement été décrit que le complexe de la neurotensine (NTS) et son récepteur NTSR1 présentent des effets délétères sur les cellules cancéreuses mammaires. La corrélation d une forte expression de NTSR1 et la mortalité des patients renforce l'impact possible de ce complexe sur la progression du cancer mammaire. Pour clarifier le rôle de la NTS dans la progression du cancer mammaire, nous avons mis en place deux clones cellulaires, NTS-l et NTS-h, présentant une boucle autocrine NTS/NTSR1 à partir d une lignée cellulaire bien différenciée du cancer mammaire, les MCF-7. Après xénogreffes chez des souris nude, ces deux clones induit fortement la croissance tumorale et l'émergence de métastases. Des expériences in vitro ont montré que la surexpression de la NTS induit une perte d'adhérence cellulaire, la migration cellulaire et améliore les matrices cellulaires, comme le collagène de type I et le matrigel. Ainsi, la NTS induit l'expression et l'activation constitutive des récepteurs EGFR, ErbB-2 et -3, par l'intermédiaire de l'activation des métalloprotéinases MMP-9 et ADAM-17 qui libèrent les ligands spécifiques d'EGFR et ErbB3, Hb-EGF et NRG-2. En outre, un effet synergique entre le NTS et l'EGF sur la migration et l'invasion cellulaire a été observé. L'utilisation des inhibiteurs pharmacologiques nous a démontrés que la voie PLC/PKC et la MAPK sont impliqués dans ces effets oncogènes cellulairesAlthough, the mortality rate decreases regularly because of the new therapies and earlier detection, breast cancer remains the leading cause of death among women. The identification of cellular factors with deleterious effect on breast cancer progression is of major primary. It has been largely described that the complex neurotensin (NTS) and its high affinity receptor type 1 (NTSR1) exhibit deleterious effects on mammary cancer cells. The correlation between a strong expression of NTSR1 and the patient mortality strengthened the possible impact of this complex on breast cancer progression. To clarify the role of NTS in breast cancer progression, we established two cell lines presenting a NTS autocrine regulation NTS-l and NTS-h from the well-differentiated breast cancer cell-line, the MCF-7. Following xenografts in nude mice, these two clones strongly induced tumor growth and metastasis emergence. In vitro experiments showed that NTS overexpression induces a loss in cellular adhesion, and enhances cell migration on several cellular matrices, as collagen and matrigel. The analysis of the cellular mechanisms shows that NTS induces expression and constitutive activation of the EGFR, and ErbB-2 and -3 receptors, via the activation of the MMP-9 and ADAM-17, and the EGF-like as Hb-EGF and NRG-2. Moreover, a synergic effect between NTS and EGF on cellular migration and invasion was observed. Using pharmacological inhibitors we demonstrate that PLC/PKC pathway and MAP kinase are in the pathway involved in these oncogenic cellular effectsPARIS-BIUSJ-Biologie recherche (751052107) / SudocSudocFranceF

Fundamental verdsettelse av XXL ASA

Denne masterutredningen er en strategisk regnskapsanalyse og verdivurdering av XXL ASA, heretter XXL, basert på regnskapstall per 31.12.2015. Målet med oppgaven er å komme frem til et verdiestimat på egenkapitalen til XXL og en tilhørende aksjepris, noe som kan gi grunnlag for en handelsstrategi. Verdsettelsen er basert på prospektet fra 2014 som ble utarbeidet av XXL i forbindelse med børsnoteringen, årsrapportene fra 2014 og 2015, samt annen offentlig tilgjengelig informasjon. Oppgaven består av tre deler. I den første delen presenteres XXL, bransjen og ulike verdsettelsesteknikker, samt at det gjennomføres en strategisk analyse. Den strategiske analysen gir innsikt i XXLs styrker og svakheter, samt muligheter og trusler i omgivelsene. I den andre delen gjennomføres det en regnskapsanalyse, samt en analyse av risiko og lønnsomhet. De to første delene gir grunnlag for utarbeidelse av et fremtidsbudsjett og fremtidskrav. XXL verdsettes ved hjelp av ulike metoder med utgangspunkt i fremtidsbudsjettet. Verdiestimatet er imidlertid usikkert, og det gjennomføres en sensitivitetsanalyse. Til slutt gjennomføres det en komparativ verdsettelse som supplement for den fundamentale verdsettelsen. Verdiestimatet som vi kommer frem til i denne verdsettelsen er 124,77 kr per aksje per 31.12.2015. Børskursen samme dato var 102 kr. Konklusjonen fra våre analyser er dermed at aksjen er priset for lavt på Oslo Børs, og at det finnes merverdier i selskapet som ikke er reflektert i markedsprisen. Derfor gir vi en kjøpsanbefaling.nhhma