Looking for sediment distribution and heavy metals contamination: the case study of Neretva Channel (Croatia)

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Sediment Distribution and Trace Metals Contaminations in Neretva Channel (Croazia)

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Traffic management system for smart road networks reserved for self-driving cars

A model of a smart road network consisting of unsignalised intersections and smart roads connecting them is considered in this work with the aim of presenting a traffic management system for self-driving cars (or, more generally, autonomous vehicles) which travel the network. The proposed system repeatedly solves a set of mathematical programming problems (each of them relative to a single intersection or to a single road stretch of the network) within a decentralised control scheme in which each local intersection controller and each local road controller communicates with the fully autonomous vehicles in order to receive travel data from vehicles and to provide speed profiles to them once determined the optimal solution of the problem. In order to reduce the computational effort required to provide the optimal solution, a discrete-time approach is adopted so that, in each time interval, a limited number of vehicles are taken into consideration; in this way, solutions can be determined in a very short time thus making the proposed model compatible with a practical application to real traffic systems. The proposed model is general enough, and can be adapted to different scenarios of smart road networks reserved for self-driving cars

Bolivia, Perú y Chile en la encrucijada : Buscando una alternativa para la solución de los diferendos marítimos en el Pacífico Sur

La presente ponencia nace de un trabajo realizado como entrega final del seminario ‘Construcción de la Paz’ dictado en 2010 por Luis Tibiletti en la Facultad de Ciencia Sociales de la Universidad del Salvador. La temática trabajada se centró en el conflicto marítimo vigente entre Chile y Perú en torno de la delimitación de sus aguas territoriales; pero el estudio de las problemáticas, y la búsqueda de una resolución de largo plazo, que permita no sólo sostenerse en el tiempo, sino solucionar verdaderamente dichos problemas, sobre todo desde una propuesta innovadora y que no responda a las lógicas de seguridad vigentes y apegadas a la Real politik, nos hizo ver como imprescindible la inclusión en la mesa de negociación a Bolivia. Recordemos que Bolivia y Chile tienen pendiente a un tiempo otro diferendo que podríamos considerar marítimo, referente al reclamo llevado a cabo por el gobierno boliviano de la obtención de un enclave costero. El problema respecto del reclamo boliviano desde la perspectiva chilena, y lo que hace que las negociaciones no logren avanzar, es que el gobierno boliviano exige que dicho enclave sea otorgado con legación de soberanía. Esta cuestión es de principal relevancia, ya que nos ayuda a vislumbrar los puntos máximos y mínimos de negociación de ambos países; y ayuda a un tiempo a comprender el continuo estancamiento respecto de cualquier avance respecto del conflicto. La exigencia boliviana, no puede ser más que vista como una amenaza a la integridad marítima chilena, sobre todo teniendo en cuenta, los paradigmas de análisis de corte realista y de seguridad vigentes en el país trasandino; punto que desarrollaremos con mayor extensión a su debido momento.Instituto de Relaciones Internacionales (IRI

Bolivia, Perú y Chile en la encrucijada : Buscando una alternativa para la solución de los diferendos marítimos en el Pacífico Sur

La presente ponencia nace de un trabajo realizado como entrega final del seminario ‘Construcción de la Paz’ dictado en 2010 por Luis Tibiletti en la Facultad de Ciencia Sociales de la Universidad del Salvador. La temática trabajada se centró en el conflicto marítimo vigente entre Chile y Perú en torno de la delimitación de sus aguas territoriales; pero el estudio de las problemáticas, y la búsqueda de una resolución de largo plazo, que permita no sólo sostenerse en el tiempo, sino solucionar verdaderamente dichos problemas, sobre todo desde una propuesta innovadora y que no responda a las lógicas de seguridad vigentes y apegadas a la Real politik, nos hizo ver como imprescindible la inclusión en la mesa de negociación a Bolivia. Recordemos que Bolivia y Chile tienen pendiente a un tiempo otro diferendo que podríamos considerar marítimo, referente al reclamo llevado a cabo por el gobierno boliviano de la obtención de un enclave costero. El problema respecto del reclamo boliviano desde la perspectiva chilena, y lo que hace que las negociaciones no logren avanzar, es que el gobierno boliviano exige que dicho enclave sea otorgado con legación de soberanía. Esta cuestión es de principal relevancia, ya que nos ayuda a vislumbrar los puntos máximos y mínimos de negociación de ambos países; y ayuda a un tiempo a comprender el continuo estancamiento respecto de cualquier avance respecto del conflicto. La exigencia boliviana, no puede ser más que vista como una amenaza a la integridad marítima chilena, sobre todo teniendo en cuenta, los paradigmas de análisis de corte realista y de seguridad vigentes en el país trasandino; punto que desarrollaremos con mayor extensión a su debido momento.Instituto de Relaciones Internacionales (IRI

Atmospheric CO 2 concentrations and δ 13 C values between New Zealand and Antarctica, 1998 to 2010: some puzzling results

From 1998 to 2010, during eight cruises of the M/V Italica between New Zealand and Antarctica, sets of flask air samples were collected and atmospheric CO 2 concentrations were recorded. The δ 13 C of CO 2 from the 1998 to 2003 air samples have already been published and show large interannual variability and an increasing frequency of 13 C-depleted samples. These results were related to a mosaic of areas with positive air–sea fluxes. We report here δ 13 C results from air samples collected from four further cruises. δ 13 C values obtained during the 2004/2005 cruise show an inexplicable saw-toothed distribution. Air samples from the 2005/2006 cruise have δ 13 C values which match previous sets of samples (1998 to 2004) and show more frequent and more negative isotopic events. From 2006 until 2009, further samples could not be collected. However, during December 2009 and January 2010, two more sets of air samples were collected, the δ 13 C values of which greatly differ from previous results, being absolutely homogeneous and paralleled by flat CO 2 concentrations. The results of these last two sets of air samples may be due either to fortuitous environmental conditions or to an improbable and substantial change in oceanic and atmospheric conditions in this section of the circumpolar area. Keywords: New Zealand to Antarctica, flask air samples, atmospheric CO 2 concentrations, carbon isotopic composition of CO 2 , puzzling results (Published: 5 December 2012) Citation: Tellus B 2012, 64 , 17472, http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v64i0.1747

Pure laparoscopic formal right hepatectomy versus anatomical posterosuperior segmental resections : a comparative study

Background: To analyze the differences in perioperative outcomes between laparoscopic formal right hepatectomies (RH) and laparoscopic anatomical posterosuperior (PS) resections, including segmentectomies in PS segment SVII and right posterior sectionectomies (segment VI and VII resection). Methods: A retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing laparoscopic formal RHs and anatomical PS resections, including segmentectomies in PS segment SVII and right posterior sectionectomies (segment VI and VII resection), between January 2010 and August 2017 was performed. The two groups were compared in terms of patients’ characteristics, intraoperative parameters, and short-term outcomes. Results: Sixty-eight patients were included of which 32 RHs and 36 anatomical PS resections. In the PS resection group, 18 had a segmentectomy of segment VII and 18 had a bisegmentectomy of both segments VI and VII. Patients’ preoperative data were comparable. The lesion size was higher in the RHs (P<0.001). A significant shorter operative time was found in the PS group: 280 [230–315] vs. 357 [300–463] min in the RH group (P<0.001). Blood loss was comparable: 520 [390–906] in the RHs vs. 560 [370–1,030] in the PS group (P=0.595). The overall morbidity rate was comparable being 25% in the RHs and 22.2% in the PS group (P=1.000). A longer length of stay (LOS) {7 [5–8] vs. 5 [4–7] days, P=0.012} and higher readmission rate (12.5% vs. 0%, P=0.044) was observed in the RHs compared to the PS cohort. Concerning surgical margins, the R0 rate was comparable in the two groups; 90.9% in the RHs vs. 95.2% in the PS group (P=1.000). Conclusions: When deemed feasible based on lesion position and size, the laparoscopic parenchyma-preserving approach using anatomical PS segmental resections is associated with shorter hospital stay and a lower readmission rate in respect to formal RH. Overall, short-term surgical parameters indicated that both procedures are safe and feasible in experienced hands, however both demand a great deal of technical expertise

The Palliative Prognostic (PaP) Score without Clinical Evaluation Predicts Early Mortality among Advanced NSCLC Patients Treated with Immunotherapy

Background: An acceptable risk-benefit ratio may encourage the prescription of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) near the late stage of life. The lung immune prognostic index (LIPI) was validated in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with ICIs. The palliative prognostic (PaP) score without clinical prediction of survival (PaPwCPS) predicts early mortality probability in terminal cancer patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective study including 182 deceased advanced NSCLC patients, treated with single-agent ICI at our Institution. Two prognostic categories of high and low mortality risk were identified through ROC curve analysis for PaPwCPS and LIPI scores. Results: Most were &gt;65 years of age (68.3%) and received second-line ICI (61.2%). A total of 29 (15.9%) and 131 (72.0%) patients died within 30 and 90 days from treatment start, respectively. A total of 81 patients (44.5%) received ICI during the last month of life. Baseline PaPwCPS and LIPI scores were assessable for 78 patients. The AUC of ROC curves was significantly increased for PaPwCPS as compared with LIPI score for both 30-day and 90-day mortality. A high PaPwCPS score was associated in multivariate analysis with increased 30-day (HR 2.69, p = 0.037) and 90-day (HR 4.01, p &lt; 0.001) mortality risk. A high LIPI score was associated with increased 90-day mortality risk (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: We found a tendency towards ICI prescription near the late stage of life. The PaPwCPS score was a reliable predictor of 30- and 90-day mortality

Risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection among nonintravenous-drug-using heterosexuals attending a clinic for sexually transmitted disease in Italy

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Immunotherapy in Pancreatic Cancer: Why Do We Keep Failing? A Focus on Tumor Immune Microenvironment, Predictive Biomarkers and Treatment Outcomes

The advent of immunotherapy and targeted therapies has dramatically changed the outcomes of patients affected by many malignancies. Pancreatic cancer (PC) remains one the few tumors that is not treated with new generation therapies, as chemotherapy still represents the only effective therapeutic strategy in advanced-stage disease. Agents aiming to reactivate the host immune system against cancer cells, such as those targeting immune checkpoints, failed to demonstrate significant activity, despite the success of these treatments in other tumors. In many cases, the proportion of patients who derived benefits in early-phase trials was too small and unpredictable to justify larger studies. The population of PC patients with high microsatellite instability/mismatch repair deficiency is currently the only population that may benefit from immunotherapy; nevertheless, the prevalence of these alterations is too low to determine a real change in the treatment scenario of this tumor. The reasons for the unsuccess of immunotherapy may lie in the extremely peculiar tumor microenvironment, including distinctive immune composition and cross talk between different cells. These unique features may also explain why the biomarkers commonly used to predict immunotherapy efficacy in other tumors seem to be useless in PC. In the current paper, we provide a comprehensive and up-to-date review of immunotherapy in PC, from the analysis of the tumor immune microenvironment to immune biomarkers and treatment outcomes, with the aim to highlight that simply transferring the knowledge acquired on immunotherapy in other tumors might not be a successful strategy in patients affected by PC