An efficient heuristic for the multi-vehicle one-to-one pickup and delivery problem with split loads

In this study, we consider the Multi-vehicle One-to-one Pickup and Delivery Problem with Split Loads (MPDPSL). This problem is a generalization of the one-to-one Pickup and Delivery Problem (PDP) where each load can be served by multiple vehicles as well as multiple stops by the same vehicle. In practice, split deliveries is a viable option in many settings where the load can be physically split, such as courier services of third party logistics operators. We propose an efficient heuristic that combines the strengths of Tabu Search and Simulated Annealing for the solution of MPDPSL. Results from experiments on two problems sets in the literature indicate that the heuristic is capable of producing good quality solutions in reasonable time. The experiments also demonstrate that up to 33\% savings can be obtained by allowing split loads; however, the magnitude of savings is dependent largely on the spatial distribution of the pickup and delivery points

Biološka važnost pretjerane ekspresije HSP70 i alfa-B kristalina u supstanciji nigri štakora izloženih različitim dozama permetrina

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of the Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) and Alpha B-crystallin (αBC) in the substantia nigra of rats exposed to permethrin at different doses on the apoptotic cell status. The orogastric gavage method was used to administer the different doses of permethrin (75 mg kg-1 in Group I, 150 mg kg-1 in group II, 300 mg kg-1 in group III) to the rats. Using the Western blot test, all the permethrin-treated groups showed a dose-dependent increase in the expression of HSP70 and αBC when compared to the control group. TUNEL positive apoptotic cells were not detected in the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra after treatment with permethrin; however, upon immunofluorescent staining, intense positive reactions for HSP70 and αBC were observed in all of the treated groups. No immunopositive cells were detected in the tissue sections of the control group. These results suggest that the different administered doses of permethrin did not cause apoptotic cell death in the substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons; however, they did induce an increase in HSP70 and αBC expression. Thus, it appears that HSP70 and αBC could play a neuroprotective role in permethrin-induced neurotoxicitySvrha ove studije bila je istražiti moguću ulogu proteina toplinskog stresa 70 (HSP70) i alfa-B kristalina (αBC) u supstanciji nigri (lat. substantia nigra) štakora izloženih različitim dozama permetrina na apoptotske stanice. Metoda orogastričnog hranjenja upotrijebljena je kako bi se štakorima dale različite doze permetrina (75 mg kg-1 u skupini I, 150 mg kg-1 u skupini II, 300 mg kg-1 u skupini III). Nakon provođenja analize Western blot sve skupine kojima je dan permetrin pokazale su, ovisno o dozi, povećanje ekspresije HSP70 i αBC u usporedbi s kontrolnom skupinom. Apoptotske stanice pozitivne na TUNEL-test nisu otkrivene u dopaminergičkim neuronima supstancije nigre nakon tretmana permetrinom. Međutim nakon imunofl uorescentnog bojenja za HSP70 i αBC primijećene su snažne pozitivne reakcije u svim tretiranim skupinama. U tkivu kontrolne skupine nije bilo imunopozitivnih stanica. Naši rezultati upućuju na to da različite doze permetrina nisu uzrokovale apoptozu dopaminergičkih neurona supstancije nigre, ali su izazvale povećanje ekspresije HSP70 i αBC. Stoga bi HSP70 i αBC mogli imati pozitivan neuroprotektivni učinak pri neurotoksičnosti izazvanoj permetrinom

Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Index Predicts One-Year Mortality in Patients with Heart Failure: An Analysis of the SELFIE-TR Study

Objective: Predicting outcomes is an essential part of evaluation in patients with heart failure (HF). While there are multiple individual laboratory and imaging variables, as well as risk scores available for this purpose, they are seldom useful during the initial evaluation. In this analysis, we aimed to understand predictive usefulness of Thrombosis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Index (TIMI-RI), a simple index that is calculated at bedside using three commonly available variables, using data from a multicenter HF registry. Subjects and Methods: A total of 728 patients from 23 centers were included to this analysis. Data on hospitalizations and mortality were collected by direct interviews, phone calls and electronic databases. TIMI-RI was calculated as defined before. Patients were divided into three equal tertiles to perform analyses. Results: Rehospitalization for HF was significantly higher in patients within the 3rd tertile, and 33.5% of patients within the 3rd tertile were dead within one-year follow up as compared to 14.5% of patients within the 1st tertile and 15.6% patients within the 2nd tertile (p<0.001, log-rank p<0.001 for pairwise comparisons on survival analysis). A TIMI-RI higher than 33 had a negative predictive value of 84.8% and a positive predictive value of 33.8% for prediction of one-year mortality. This predictive usefulness was independent of other demographic, examination and clinical variables (OR:1.74, 95%CI:1.05-2.86, p=0.036). Conclusion: TIMI-RI is a simple index that predicts one-year mortality in patients with HF, and it could be useful for rapid evaluation and triage of HF patients at the time of initial contact

Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I-related Chain A and B Gene Expression in Sepsis Patient

WOS: 000402784000004Major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A and B (MICA/B) function in the regulation of protective responses due to stress induced expression. One of the major causes of the morbidity is sepsis. The objective of this study was to measure the mRNA levels of these genes in the control and sepsis patient groups. Data showed increases in mRNA concentrations of MICA and MICB in the Patient Group in contrast to the Control Group. However this level was found higher than MICA mRNA concentration in the patient group. The current study is the first report according to the researchers' knowledge representing the significant increases in the MICA and MICB expressions in the sepsis. This might provide a useful data for emphasizing these molecules as sensitive biomarkers. Further research is needed to enlighten the detail mechanisms of the MICA/B roles and to develop new treatment approaches

Comparison of lidocaine metabolism for different anesthesia techniques in rabbits with liver disease

Objective. This study was designed to investigate the serum lidocaine concentrations (SLC) after local infiltration anesthesia (IA) and mandibular anesthesias (MA) in rabbits with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced chronic liver damage (CLD)

A branch and cut algorithm for the multi-vehicle one-to-one pickup and delivery problem with split loads

In this work we deal with the Multi-vehicle One-to-one Pickup and Delivery Problem with Split Loads (MPDPSL). This problem is a generalization of the one-to-one Pickup and Delivery Problem (PDP) where each load can be served by multiple stops by the same vehicle. In practice split deliveries is a viable option in many settings such as courier services of third party logistics operators. We propose a branch-and-cut algorithm which employs valid inequalities devised for special cases of the MPDPSL, such as the Dial-a-Ride Problem, PDP and Split Delivery Vehicle Routing Problem. According to our computational experiments with randomly generated test instances, we may claim that the proposed algorithm can be used for small sized instances

Vascular Responses Of Aortic, Renal, And Uterine Arteries In Suramin-Induced Preeclampsia-Like Syndrome In Rats

Background/aim: Suramin is a potent angiogenesis inhibitor in rodents and attenuates placental development in rat pregnancy. We aimed to produce preeclampsia-like syndrome by suramin administration in rats and to investigate the functional responses in aortic, renal, and uterine arteries. Materials and methods: Pregnant and nonpregnant wistar rats received suramin (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) or equal volume of saline on days 10 and 11. Blood pressures of rats were observed daily. On the day 20, rats were executed. Protein levels in urine were measured and fetuses, placentas, and kidneys were weighted and evaluated. Thoracic aorta, renal, and uterine arteries were removed for functional studies. Results: Increased blood pressures and proteinuria were detected in suramin-given pregnant rats. Pathological examination of kidneys showed an acute tubular injury after suramin injection. Numbers and weights of fetuses and placentas were reduced in suramin-given pregnant rats. In functional studies, endothelial dysfunction occurred in uterine and renal arteries but not in the aorta. In this study, we showed that preeclampsia-like syndrome occurred in suramin-given rats. Conclusion: Our findings, which show that endothelial dysfunction occurred in uterine and renal arteries but not in the aorta, are consistent with the human findings of microvascular changes in preeclampsia.WoSScopu

Iron deficiency and anemia in heart failure

Heart failure is an important community health problem. Prevalence and incidence of heart failure have continued to rise over the years. Despite recent advances in heart failure therapy, prognosis is still poor, rehospitalization rate is very high, and quality of life is worse. Co-morbidities in heart failure have negative impact on clinical course of the disease, further impair prognosis, and add difficulties to treatment of clinical picture. Therefore, successful management of co-morbidities is strongly recommended in addition to conventional therapy for heart failure. One of the most common co-morbidities in heart failure is presence of iron deficiency and anemia. Current evidence suggests that iron deficiency and anemia are more prevalent in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, as well as those with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction. Moreover, iron deficiency and anemia are referred to as independent predictors for poor prognosis in heart failure. There is strong relationship between iron deficiency or anemia and severity of clinical status of heart failure. Over the last two decades, many clinical investigations have been conducted on clinical effectiveness of treatment of iron deficiency or anemia with oral iron, intravenous iron, and erythropoietin therapies. Studies with oral iron and erythropoietin therapies did not provide any clinical benefit and, in fact, these therapies have been shown to be associated with increase in adverse clinical outcomes. However, clinical trials in patients with iron deficiency in the presence or absence of anemia have demonstrated considerable clinical benefits of intravenous iron therapy, and based on these positive outcomes, iron deficiency has become target of therapy in management of heart failure. The present report assesses current approaches to iron deficiency and anemia in heart failure in light of recent evidence