Determining highway corridors

In the highway development process, the first planning stage is that of selecting a corridor along which the highway is to pass. Highway corridor selection represents a multicriteria decision process in which a variety of social, enviromental and economic factors must be evaluated and weighted for a large number of corridor alternatives. This paper proposes a demand-based approach to provide a set of potential corridors. The problem is formulated as a continuous location model which seeks a set of optimal corridors with respect to the demand of potential users while satisfying budget constraints. This model uses geographical information in order to estimate the length-dependent costs (such as pavement and construction cost) and the cost of earth movement. A procedure for finding the best local minima of the optimization model is proposed. This method is tested using the Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm, two algorithms of the Simulated Annealing type and the Simplex Nedelmar method. An application using the Castilla-La Mancha\s geographic database is presented

Modeling of the behavior of alternative fuel vehicle buyers. A model for the location of alternative refueling stations

This paper addresses the problem of estimating the infrastructure to be made available for refueling alternative fuel vehicles as a function of the profitability thresholds required by the investment. A methodology has been devised based on sales forecasts for alternative fuel vehicles. These methods use discrete choice models in which the factor of refueling infrastructure, rather than being considered simply as one more attribute of the model, acts as a constraint on the choice set for vehicle buyers. This methodology is used to estimate the infrastructure of hydrogen refueling stations and electricity charging stations for Spain (8,112 population centers) in 2030. Evolution of fuel cell vehicles over the years 2016 and 2030 is also estimated and compared with forecasts for countries such as France, Germany and the United Kingdom

A framework for derivative free algorithm hybridization

Column generation is a basic tool for the solution of largescale mathematical programming problems. We present a class of column generation algorithms in which the columns are generated by derivative free algorithms, like population-based algorithms. This class can be viewed as a framework to define hybridization of free derivative algorithms. This framework has been illustrated in this article using the Simulated Annealing (SA) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithms, combining them with the Nelder-Mead (NM) method. Finally a set of computational experiments has been carried out to illustrate the potential of this framework

Prevalencia de apéndice preauricular en 129,426 nacimientos consecutivos ocurridos en el Hospital Civil de Guadalajara (México) "Dr. Juan I. Menchaca"

Esta publicación muestra la prevalencia de apéndice preauricular y la frecuencia de algunas variables relevantes. Seestudió la de prevalencia en 254 neonatos con apéndice preauricular diagnosticada en el momento del nacimiento, en 129,426nacimientos consecutivos ocurridos en el Hospital Civil de Guadalajara (México) “Dr. Juan I Menchaca” durante el período de1990 a 2003. Con una entrevista directa a las madres se obtuvo información de las variables relevantes. Se midió la prevalencia deapéndice preauricular y la frecuencia de las variables de estudio. Por 1,000 nacidos vivos 1.96 sufrían de apéndice preauricular.Masculinos 55 por ciento y 45 por ciento femeninos, relación masculino / femenino de 1.2. De los 254 sujetos con apéndicepreauricular, 228 (90%) lo presentaron en una oreja y en ambas 26 (10%); el lado más afectado fue el derecho. La edadgestacional en los casos y en los controles fue de 39±2 semanas y con antropometría similar. En nueve sujetos (3%) se documentóal menos otra malformación congénita adicional. Infección en vías urinarias, cervicovaginitis y gripe resultaron las enfermedadesmás frecuentes en las madres de los neonatos con apéndice preauricular. Once madres emplearon anticonceptivos cerca de lafecha de la concepción. La prevalencia de apéndice preauricular muestra poca diferencia a la reportada en Europa, pero menorque la de África y Asia. El lado derecho de la cara es donde más común aparece la malformación. La frecuencia relativamenteelevada de enfermedades durante el embarazo en las madres de los neonatos con apéndice preauricular, sugiere la necesidad deestudiar más para profundizar en la relación de estas variables

A continuous bi-level model for the expansion of highway networks

Adding new corridors to a highway network represents a multicriteria decision process in which a variety of social, environmental and economic factors must be evaluated and weighted for a large number of corridor alternatives. This paper proposes a new bi-level continuous location model for expansion of a highway network by adding several highway corridors within a geographical region. The upper level problem determines the location of the highway corridors, taking into account the budgetary and technological restrictions, while the lower level problem models the users\\\\\\\\ behavior in the located transport network (choices of route and transport system). The proposed model takes into account the demand in the area served by the new network highway corridors, the available budget and the user behaviour. This model uses geographical information in order to estimate the length-dependent costs (such as pavement and construction costs) and the cost of earth movement. The proposed method is tested using the Standard Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm and applied to the Castilla-La Mancha geographic database. The previous methodology has been extended to a multiobjective approach in order to handling uncertainty in demand

A Methodology for the Automatic Regulation of Intersections in Real Time using Soft-computing Techniques

This work presents an application of diverse soft-computing techniques to the resolution of semaphoric regulation problems. First, clustering techniques are used to discover the prototypes which characterize the mobility patterns at an intersection. A prediction model is then constructed on the basis of the prototypes found. Fuzzy logic techniques are used to formally represent the prototypes in this prediction model and these prototypes are parametrically defined through frameworks. The use of these techniques supposes a substancial contribution to the significance of the prediction model, making it robust in the face of anomalous mobility patterns, and efficient from the point of view of real-time computatio

A modeling framework for the estimation of optimal CO2 emission taxes for private transport

In this paper, a novel modeling framework is proposed for the estimation of optimal CO2 emission taxes for urban traffic. The framework is based on a bi-level model comprising a combined equilibrium model with elastic demand and a \\\\pollution taxes\\\\ (PTs) estimation model based on vehicle kilometers traveled and emissions produced. A bi-level optimization problem is proposed for the PT estimation model (PTM) in order to provide the minimum price which reduces emissions generated in an urban area to a desired value dependent on the environmental goals. To solve this problem, the Regula Falsi method is proposed and it exhibits a high enough rate of convergence. Two tests using the Nguyen and Dupuis network and Barcelona network (Spain) have been performed to test the convergence of our resolution method and the applicability of the proposal over networks with different sizes. The results are very promising and allow the implicit definition of the behavior of users against different PT prices

An adaptive approach to enhanced traffic signal optimization by using soft-computing techniques

This paper presents an application of diverse soft-computing techniques to adaptive traffic light controls. The proposed methodology consists of two main phases: off-line and on-line. First, clustering techniques and optimization methods are used at the off-line stage to discover the prototypes which characterize the traffic mobility patterns at an intersection. After this process an optimum timing plan is decided for each mobility pattern detected. In the on-line phase, a prediction model is then constructed on the basis of the prototypes found. Fuzzy Logic based techniques are used to formally represent the prototypes in the prediction model and these prototypes are parametrically defined through frameworks. During the on-line phase an intelligent transportation system, by using the prediction model, matches the current traffic conditions to the mobility patterns detected at the off-line stage in order to identify the most suitable one to be used. The use of these techniques supposes a substantial contribution to the significance of the prediction model, making it robust in the face of anomalous mobility patterns, and efficient from the point of view of real-time computation

Understanding the impact of depressive symptoms in older-adults functionality Comprendiendo el impacto de los síntomas depresivos en la funcionalidad de las personas mayores

Introduction: Depression is the health conditions that generate a higher disease burden, where the older adults show a great impact related to this disease. The article describes the impact of depressive symptoms in the functional performance of older adults and seeks to understand the existing relationship between functional impairment and depressive symptoms. Method: a literature review was conducted of articles published between years 1990 to 2016. A narrative analysis was conducted with the finding literature. 40 articles were included. Results: One of the main repercussions is the functional impairment and the reduction in the daily life activities participation, related to a progressive dependency, higher fall risk and fear to falls, restriction and reduction of participation in meaningful activities, and worst rehabilitation and health care outcomes. Considering these elements, it is necessary to understand depressive symptoms in older adults in conjunction with functional impa

Case series of infants presenting with end stage retinopathy of prematurity to two tertiary eye care facilities in Mexico: underlying reasons for late presentation.

To describe the characteristics of infants with bilateral Stage 4b or 5 ROP (i.e. with subtotal or total retinal detachment) who presented to eye departments in two major cities in Mexico, to identify reasons why they may have become blind in order to recommend how programs could be improved. A large case-series of infants with Stage 4b or 5 ROP in both eyes confirmed by ultrasound who attended the ROP Clinic, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara from September 2010 to November 2012, and the Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez from December 2011 to December 2012 were identified from the diagnostic databases of each hospital. Mothers of infants in Guadalajara had a telephone interview. 89/94 eligible infants were included in the study, 48 in Guadalajara and 41 in Mexico City. Cases came from 22 of the 32 states in Mexico. Half of the infants attending Guadalajara 24/48 (50 %) had been cared for in NICUs without ROP screening programs and were not examined. Among the 24 infants cared for in NICUs with ROP programs, 7/24 (29.1 %) mothers reported that their infant had not been examined while in the NICU, and a further 9/24 (37.5 %) were either not referred for screening after discharge or they did not attend. Two infants had failed laser treatment. Strategies and resources to prevent end stage ROP have not been firmly established in Mexico. There is an urgent need to expand the coverage and quality of ROP programs, to ensure that existing screening guidelines are better adhered to, and to improve communication with parents