A Manual of Verification Process for Road Network Simulation Models - an Examination in Japan

SUMMARY This paper at first introduces an examination in Japan to standardize traffic simulation models. The basic idea of the standardization here is to estimate abilities of existing models how to reproduce traffic conditions through verification and validation. Verification implies qualifying tests using virtual data sets in order to make a connection between the simulation model and the traffic-engineering theory clear, while validation means an evaluation process with real world data. Subsequently to the general introduction, the verification process will be detailed with its philosophy and basic test configurations to verify models' functions concerning to 1) vehicle generation, 2) bottleneck capacity at simple road sections, 3) capacity of merging/diverging areas, 4) traffic jam growing/shrinking with propagation of shock waves, 5) capacity of left/right turn at an intersection, and 6) drivers' route choice behavior. In the last part of this paper, we briefly state the on-going project to compare some popular simulation models in Japan

Fyn Phosphorylates Transglutaminase 2 (Tgm2) and modulates autophagy and p53 expression in the development of diabetic kidney disease

Autophagy is involved in the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. The Fyn tyrosine kinase (Fyn) suppresses autophagy in the muscle. However, its role in kidney autophagic processes is unclear. Here, we examined the role of Fyn kinase in autophagy in proximal renal tubules both in vivo and in vitro. Phospho-proteomic analysis revealed that transglutaminase 2 (Tgm2), a protein involved in the degradation of p53 in the autophagosome, is phosphorylated on tyrosine 369 (Y369) by Fyn. Interestingly, we found that Fyn-dependent phosphorylation of Tgm2 regulates autophagy in proximal renal tubules in vitro, and that p53 expression is decreased upon autophagy in Tgm2-knockdown proximal renal tubule cell models. Using streptozocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemic mice, we confirmed that Fyn regulated autophagy and mediated p53 expression via Tgm2. Taken together, these data provide a molecular basis for the role of the Fyn–Tgm2–p53 axis in the development of DKD

Tokyo Guidelines 2018: initial management of acute biliary infection and flowchart for acute cholangitis

The initial management of patients with suspected acute biliary infection starts with the measurement of vital signs to assess whether or not the situation is urgent. If the case is judged to be urgent, initial medical treatment should be started immediately including respiratory/circulatory management if required, without waiting for a definitive diagnosis. The patient's medical history is then taken; an abdominal examination is performed; blood tests, urinalysis, and diagnostic imaging are carried out; and a diagnosis is made using the diagnostic criteria for cholangitis/cholecystitis. Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, initial medical treatment should be started immediately, severity should be assessed according to the severity grading criteria for acute cholangitis/cholecystitis, and the patient's general status should be evaluated. For mild acute cholangitis, in most cases initial treatment including antibiotics is sufficient, and most patients do not require biliary drainage. However, biliary drainage should be considered if a patient does not respond to initial treatment. For moderate acute cholangitis, early endoscopic or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage is indicated. If the underlying etiology requires treatment, this should be provided after the patient's general condition has improved; endoscopic sphincterotomy and subsequent choledocholithotomy may be performed together with biliary drainage. For severe acute cholangitis, appropriate respiratory/circulatory management is required. Biliary drainage should be performed as soon as possible after the patient's general condition has been improved by initial treatment and respiratory/circulatory management. Free full articles and mobile app of TG18 are available at: http://www.jshbps.jp/modules/en/index.php?content_id=47 . Related clinical questions and references are also include

Development of a Network Traffic Simulator for the Entire Inter-urban Expressway Network in Japan

AbstractThis paper describes the development of a network traffic simulator for the entire inter-urban expressway network in Japan. With recent developments, the network topology is getting more complex, and traffic prediction based on statistical analysis is becoming harder since it does not take into account the drivers’ behavioural changes on the network. Looking at the issue from the seeds and needs perspective, there would be needs to develop a network traffic simulator dealing with traffic flow dynamics and driver behaviors. From the seeds side, road operators are now motivated to utilize the electronic toll collection (ETC) trip data collected every time a vehicle passes an ETC tollgate located at interchanges. Fully using ETC data is expected to improve the accuracy of time-dependent O-D matrix and route choice behavior model which is important in simulation studies. In this paper, the concept of traffic modeling and route choice behavior modeling in the expressway network simulation will be described, followed by calibration of time-dependent O-D matrix