A discrete firefly algorithm to solve a rich vehicle routing problem modelling a newspaper distribution system with recycling policy

A real-world newspaper distribution problem with recycling policy is tackled in this work. In order to meet all the complex restrictions contained in such a problem, it has been modeled as a rich vehicle routing problem, which can be more specifically considered as an asymmetric and clustered vehicle routing problem with simultaneous pickup and deliveries, variable costs and forbidden paths (AC-VRP-SPDVCFP). This is the first study of such a problem in the literature. For this reason, a benchmark composed by 15 instances has been also proposed. In the design of this benchmark, real geographical positions have been used, located in the province of Bizkaia, Spain. For the proper treatment of this AC-VRP-SPDVCFP, a discrete firefly algorithm (DFA) has been developed. This application is the first application of the firefly algorithm to any rich vehicle routing problem. To prove that the proposed DFA is a promising technique, its performance has been compared with two other well-known techniques: an evolutionary algorithm and an evolutionary simulated annealing. Our results have shown that the DFA has outperformed these two classic meta-heuristics

Teaching the Academic Word List in Foreign Language Speaking Classes

WOS: 00043485270039

Infections Related To Granulicatella Adiacens: Report Of Two Cases And Review Of Literature

Infections due to nutritionally variant streptococci are diagnosed rarely due to difficulties encountered during identification and isolation. Mortality rate in these infections is high therefore appropriate supplemented media and reliable detection systems should be implemented to isolate these fastidious organisms. Here, we describe two cases of Granulicatella adiacens infections. All microbiologic identifications were made with MALDI-TOF Vitek MS (BioMerieux, France), and the results confirmed by 16S ribotyping.WoSScopu

Graphene/SrTiO3 hetero interface studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

The present paper focuses on study of graphene and strontium titanate (SrTiO3 or STO) interface. An ambient pressure chemical vapour deposition (AP-CVD) setup is used to grow graphene on STO (110) substrates in the presence of methane, argon and hydrogen gases at 1000 °C for 4 h. Raman spectroscopy measurements confirm the presence of graphene on STO substrates due to the existence of typical D and G peaks referring to graphene. These characteristic peaks are missing in the spectrum for bare substrates. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is carried out for elemental analysis of samples, and study their bonding with STO substrates. We employed the valence band spectrum to calculate the valence band offset (VBO) and conduction band offset (CBO) at the G-STO interface. Also, we present an energy band diagram for Bi-layer and ABC (arranging pattern of carbon layers) stacked graphene layers

High Plasma Erythropoietin Levels are Associated With Prolonged Coma Duration and Increased Mortality in Children With Cerebral Malaria

Background. Elevated endogenous plasma erythropoietin (EPO) levels have been associated with protection from acute neurologic deficits in Kenyan children with cerebral malaria (CM). Based on these findings and animal studies, clinical trials of recombinant human EPO (rHuEPO) have been started in children with CM. Recent clinical trials in adults with acute ischemic stroke have demonstrated increased mortality with rHuEPO treatment. We conducted a study in children with CM to assess the relationship of endogenous plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) EPO levels with mortality and acute and long-term neurologic outcomes. Methods. A total of 210 children between 18 months and 12 years of age with a diagnosis of CM, were enrolled at Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. Plasma (n = 204) and CSF (n = 147) EPO levels at admission were measured by radioimmunoassay and compared with mortality and neurologic outcomes. Results. After adjustment for age and hemoglobin level, a 1-natural-log increase in plasma EPO level was associated with a 1.74-fold increase in mortality (95% confidence interval, 1.09–2.77, P = .02). Plasma and CSF EPO levels also correlated positively with coma duration (P = .05 and P = .02, respectively). Plasma and CSF EPO levels did not differ in children with vs those without acute or long-term neurologic deficits. Plasma EPO levels correlated positively with markers of endothelial and platelet activation and histidine-rich protein-2 levels, but remained associated with mortality after adjustment for these factors. Conclusions. High endogenous plasma EPO levels are associated with prolonged coma duration and increased mortality in children >18 months of age with CM

Invasive Aspergillosis Due to Aspergillus Section Usti: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

none33siBACKGROUND: Aspergillus spp. of section Usti (A. ustus) represent a rare cause of invasive aspergillosis (IA). This multicenter study describes the epidemiology and outcome of A. ustus infections. METHODS: Patients with A. ustus isolated from any clinical specimen were retrospectively identified in 22 hospitals from 8 countries. When available, isolates were sent for species identification (BenA/CaM sequencing) and antifungal susceptibility testing. Additional cases were identified by review of the literature. Cases were classified as proven/probable IA or no infection, according to standard international criteria. RESULTS: Clinical report forms were obtained for 90 patients, of whom 27 had proven/probable IA. An additional 45 cases were identified from literature review for a total of 72 cases of proven/probable IA. Hematopoietic cell and solid-organ transplant recipients accounted for 47% and 33% cases, respectively. Only 8% patients were neutropenic at time of diagnosis. Ongoing antimold prophylaxis was present in 47% of cases. Pulmonary IA represented 67% of cases. Primary or secondary extrapulmonary sites of infection were observed in 46% of cases, with skin being affected in 28% of cases. Multiple antifungal drugs were used (consecutively or in combination) in 67% of cases. The 24-week mortality rate was 58%. A. calidoustus was the most frequent causal agent. Minimal inhibitory concentrations encompassing 90% isolates (MIC90) were 1, 8, >16, and 4 µg/mL for amphotericin B, voriconazole, posaconazole, and isavuconazole, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Aspergillus ustus IA mainly occurred in nonneutropenic transplant patients and was frequently associated with extrapulmonary sites of infection. Mortality rate was high and optimal antifungal therapy remains to be defined.mixedGlampedakis E.; Cassaing S.; Fekkar A.; Dannaoui E.; Bougnoux M.-E.; Bretagne S.; Neofytos D.; Schreiber P.W.; Hennequin C.; Morio F.; Shadrivova O.; Bongomin F.; Fernandez-Ruiz M.; Bellanger A.P.; Arikan-Akdagli S.; Erard V.; Aigner M.; Paolucci M.; Khanna N.; Charpentier E.; Bonnal C.; Brun S.; Gabriel F.; Riat A.; Zbinden R.; Le Pape P.; Klimko N.; Lewis R.E.; Richardson M.; Inkaya A.C.; Coste A.T.; Bochud P.-Y.; Lamoth F.Glampedakis E.; Cassaing S.; Fekkar A.; Dannaoui E.; Bougnoux M.-E.; Bretagne S.; Neofytos D.; Schreiber P.W.; Hennequin C.; Morio F.; Shadrivova O.; Bongomin F.; Fernandez-Ruiz M.; Bellanger A.P.; Arikan-Akdagli S.; Erard V.; Aigner M.; Paolucci M.; Khanna N.; Charpentier E.; Bonnal C.; Brun S.; Gabriel F.; Riat A.; Zbinden R.; Le Pape P.; Klimko N.; Lewis R.E.; Richardson M.; Inkaya A.C.; Coste A.T.; Bochud P.-Y.; Lamoth F

Invasive Aspergillosis Due to Aspergillus Section Usti: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Aspergillus spp. of section Usti (A. ustus) represent a rare cause of invasive aspergillosis (IA). This multicenter study describes the epidemiology and outcome of A. ustus infections. Patients with A. ustus isolated from any clinical specimen were retrospectively identified in 22 hospitals from 8 countries. When available, isolates were sent for species identification (BenA/CaM sequencing) and antifungal susceptibility testing. Additional cases were identified by review of the literature. Cases were classified as proven/probable IA or no infection, according to standard international criteria. Clinical report forms were obtained for 90 patients, of whom 27 had proven/probable IA. An additional 45 cases were identified from literature review for a total of 72 cases of proven/probable IA. Hematopoietic cell and solid-organ transplant recipients accounted for 47% and 33% cases, respectively. Only 8% patients were neutropenic at time of diagnosis. Ongoing antimold prophylaxis was present in 47% of cases. Pulmonary IA represented 67% of cases. Primary or secondary extrapulmonary sites of infection were observed in 46% of cases, with skin being affected in 28% of cases. Multiple antifungal drugs were used (consecutively or in combination) in 67% of cases. The 24-week mortality rate was 58%. A. calidoustus was the most frequent causal agent. Minimal inhibitory concentrations encompassing 90% isolates (MIC90) were 1, 8, >16, and 4 µg/mL for amphotericin B, voriconazole, posaconazole, and isavuconazole, respectively. Aspergillus ustus IA mainly occurred in nonneutropenic transplant patients and was frequently associated with extrapulmonary sites of infection. Mortality rate was high and optimal antifungal therapy remains to be defined