Day-to-day dynamic traffic assignment model with variable message signs and endogenous user compliance

This paper proposes a dual-time-scale, day-to-day dynamic traffic assignment model that takes into account variable message signs (VMS) and its interactions with drivers’ travel choices and adaptive learning processes. The within-day dynamic is captured by a dynamic network loading problem with en route update of path choices influenced by the VMS; the day-to-day dynamic is captured by a simultaneous route-and-departure-time adjustment process that employs bounded user rationality. Moreover, we describe the evolution of the VMS compliance rate by modeling drivers’ learning processes. We endogenize traffic dynamics, route and departure time choices, travel delays, and VMS compliance, and thereby captur their interactions and interdependencies in a holistic manner. A case study in the west end of Glasgow is carried out to understand the impact of VMS has on road congestion and route choices in both the short and long run. Our main find- ings include an adverse effect of the VMS on the network performance in the long run (the “rebound” effect), and existence of an equilibrium state where both traffic and VMS compliance are stabilized

Expression analysis of HLA-E and NKG2A and NKG2C receptors points at a role for natural killer function in ankylosing spondylitis

Background. Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a complex chronic inflammatory disease strongly associated with the majority of HLA-B27 alleles. HLA-E are non-classical MHC class I molecules that specifically interact with the natural killer receptors NKG2A (inhibitory) and NKG2C (activating), and have been recently proposed to be involved in AS pathogenesis. Objectives: To analyze the expression of HLA-E and the CD94/NKG2 pair of receptors in HLA-B27 positive AS patients and healthy controls (HC) bearing the AS-associated, B*2705 and the non-AS-associated, B*2709 allele. Methods: The level of surface expression of HLA-E molecules on CD14 positive peripheral blood mononuclear cell was evaluated in 21 HLA-B*2705 patients with AS, 12 HLA-B*2705 HC, 12 HLA-B*2709 HC and 6 HLA-B27 negative HC, using the monoclonal antibody MEM-E/08 by quantitative cytofluorimetric analysis. The percentage and density of expression of HLA-E ligands NKG2A and NKG2C were also measured on CD3-CD56+ NK cells. Results. HLA-E expression in CD14 positive cells was significantly higher in AS patients (587.0 IQR 424-830) compared to B*2705 HC (389 IQR 251.3-440.5, p=0.0007), B*2709 HC (294.5 IQR 209.5-422, p=0.0004) and HLA-B27 negative HC (380 IQR 197.3-515.0, p=0.01). A higher number of NK cells expressing NKG2A compared to NKG2C was found in all cohort analysed as well as a higher cell surface density. Conclusion: The higher surface level of HLA-E molecules in AS patients compared to HC, concurrently with a prevalent expression of NKG2A, suggests that the crosstalk between these two molecules might play a role in AS pathogenesis accounting for the previously reported association between HLA-E and AS

Skin rash and response to cetuximab treatment: a retrospective single-center analysis

Background: The standard of care for patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell cancer (R/M HNSCC) not susceptible for surgery or reirradiation is chemotherapy with 5-FU and cisplatin plus cetuximab. Skin rash (SR) is a common adverse event of cetuximab. In patients treated with cetuximab for colorectal cancer there is strong evidence of a better outcome in those who undergo moderate or high grade of SR, and some retrospective data seem to confirm this finding in HNSCC. We report our experience. Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed 107 patients treated with cetuximab for R/M HNSCC from January 2014 to December 2016. Patients were divided in two groups by the grade of SR (G0-1 and G2-4), conforming to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v 4.0. Progression-free survival (PFS) was computed as time of progression or death since the date of assessment of recurrent/metastatic disease. Overall response rate (ORR) was computed as the sum of partial and complete responses and evaluated according to RECIST 1.1. PFS and ORR were correlated to the grade of rash. Results: 67 patients were evaluable for PFS: among them PFS was significantly longer (p 0.0014) in those who underwent a G2-4 rash (9,3 months) vs G0-1 (4,9 months). Hazard Ratio was 2,445 (CI 1.412-4.232). 95 patients were evaluable for ORR: among them G0-1 group had 4,2%, while G2-4 group had 36,8% of ORR. Conclusions: Our results support data of literature on improved outcome according to the development of skin rash in HNSCC. SR might be considered a predictive marker of response in these patients; nonetheless further ad hoc studies would be interesting

Air quality impact of a decision support system for reducing pollutant emissions: CARBOTRAF

Traffic congestion with frequent “stop & go” situations causes substantial pollutant emissions. Black carbon (BC) is a good indicator of combustion-related air pollution and results in negative health effects. Both BC and CO2 emissions are also known to contribute significantly to global warming. Current traffic control systems are designed to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. The CARBOTRAF system combines real-time monitoring of traffic and air pollution with simulation models for emission and local air quality prediction in order to deliver on-line recommendations for alternative adaptive traffic management. The aim of introducing a CARBOTRAF system is to reduce BC and CO2 emissions and improve air quality by optimizing the traffic flows. The system is implemented and evaluated in two pilot cities, Graz and Glasgow. Model simulations link traffic states to emission and air quality levels. A chain of models combines micro-scale traffic simulations, traffic volumes, emission models and air quality simulations. This process is completed for several ITS scenarios and a range of traffic boundary conditions. The real-time DSS system uses these off-line model simulations to select optimal traffic and air quality scenarios. Traffic and BC concentrations are simultaneously monitored. In this paper the effects of ITS measures on air quality are analysed with a focus on BC

Existence and stability of viscoelastic shock profiles

We investigate existence and stability of viscoelastic shock profiles for a class of planar models including the incompressible shear case studied by Antman and Malek-Madani. We establish that the resulting equations fall into the class of symmetrizable hyperbolic--parabolic systems, hence spectral stability implies linearized and nonlinear stability with sharp rates of decay. The new contributions are treatment of the compressible case, formulation of a rigorous nonlinear stability theory, including verification of stability of small-amplitude Lax shocks, and the systematic incorporation in our investigations of numerical Evans function computations determining stability of large-amplitude and or nonclassical type shock profiles.Comment: 43 pages, 12 figure

Delayed open conversion after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm: Device-specific surgical approach

none7Objectives: Despite several advances in endoluminal salvage for failed endovascular abdominal aortic repair (EVAR), in our experience an increasing number of cases necessitate delayed open conversion (dOC). Methods: EVAR patients requiring delayed (>30 days) conversion were prospectively collected in a computerized database including demographics, details of aortoiliac anatomy, procedural and clinical success, and postoperative complications. Results: Between 2005 and 2011, 54 patients were treated for aortic stent-graft explantation. Indications included 34 type I and III endoleaks, 13 type II endoleaks with aneurysm growth, 4 cases of material failures, and 3 stent-graft infections. All fit-for-surgery patients with type I/III endoleak underwent directly dOC. Different surgical approaches were used depending on the type of stent-graft. Overall 30-day mortality was 1.9%. Overall morbidity was 31% mainly due to acute renal failure (13 cases). Mean hospitalization was 6 days (range, 5-27 days). Overall survival at mean follow-up of 19 months was 78%. Conclusions: In recent years, the use of EVAR has increased dramatically, including in young patients regardless of their fitness for open repair. dOC after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm seems to be a lifesaving procedure with satisfactory initial and mid-term results. © 2013 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Marone, E.M.; Mascia, D.; Coppi, D.; Tshomba, Y.; Bertoglio, L.; Kahlberg, A.; Chiesa, R.Marone, ENRICO MARIA; Mascia, D.; Coppi, D.; Tshomba, Y.; Bertoglio, L.; Kahlberg, A.; Chiesa, R