A stochastic mixed integer programming approach to wildfire management systems

Wildfires have become more destructive and are seriously threatening societies and our ecosystems throughout the world. Once a wildfire escapes from its initial suppression attack, it can easily develop into a destructive huge fire that can result in significant loss of lives and resources. Some human-caused wildfires may be prevented; however, most nature-caused wildfires cannot. Consequently, wildfire suppression and contain- ment becomes fundamentally important; but suppressing and containing wildfires is costly. Since the budget and resources for wildfire management are constrained in reality, it is imperative to make important decisions such that the total cost and damage associated with the wildfire is minimized while wildfire containment effectiveness is maximized. To achieve this objective, wildfire attack-bases should be optimally located such that any wildfire is suppressed within the effective attack range from some bases. In addition, the optimal fire-fighting resources should be deployed to the wildfire location such that it is efficiently suppressed from an economic perspective. The two main uncertain/stochastic factors in wildfire management problems are fire occurrence frequency and fire growth characteristics. In this thesis two models for wildfire management planning are proposed. The first model is a strategic model for the optimal location of wildfire-attack bases under uncertainty in fire occurrence. The second model is a tactical model for the optimal deployment of fire-fighting resources under uncertainty in fire growth. A stochastic mixed-integer programming approach is proposed in order to take into account the uncertainty in the problem data and to allow for robust wildfire management decisions under uncertainty. For computational results, the tactical decision model is numerically experimented by two different approaches to provide the more efficient method for solving the model

rhBMP-2-Coated Acellular Dermal Graft for Chronic Rotator Cuff Healing: Translational Tendon Repair Research

A rotator cuff tear is a common shoulder injury in sports medicine. However, a rotator cuff repair still has the high failure rate (57%) in large torn (>8 cm2) rotator cuff cases. One of the main reasons is failing at suture-tendon cause of continuous tensional and torsional stresses even after surgery, and thus, an ideal biologic augmentation to overcome large tears is an essential challenge. The ECM graft, the biological material can be useful for augment repair of large torn rotator cuff. Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2), which belongs to transforming growth factor-β superfamily, is well known as an osteoinductive growth factor. It plays an important role in the development of bone and cartilage. rhBMP-2 also facilitates chemotaxis in the host tissue. In this study, rhBMP-2-coated acellular dermal graft, which is isolated from human cadaveric donor, was transplanted in the rabbit with the chronic rotator cuff injury. The radiologic image, histomorphometric, histologic image analyses, and tensile test were performed to evaluate the effectiveness. The results showed the enhancement of increased host cell infiltration, new bone formation, and tensile mechanical property. The rhBMP-2-coated acellular dermal graft will be promising for chronic rotator cuff healing

The Injectable rhBMP-2-containing Collagen Gel for Tendon Healing in a Rabbit Extra-Articular Bone Tunnel Model

This rabbit animal study has a hypothesis that the collagen gel, which is injectable easily, can be an effective carrier for recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) for the tendon healing in a bone tunnel. The cut upper long digital extensor tendon of each rabbit was inserted into the proximal tibia bone tunnel, and rhBMP-2 conjugated collagen gel was injected into the tendon-bone tunnel interface using a syringe. Biomechanical and histological performances were analyzed at 3 and 6 weeks after surgery. The collagen sol at room temperature was transformed to a gel at 37°C. The rhBMP-2 was slowly released from the collagen gel for more than 4 weeks. The in vivo experiment showed the enhanced new fibrocartilage and bone tissue formation at 6 weeks after injecting the rhBMP-2-containing collagen gel. The calcification and enthesis-like tissue were detected radiologically in the repaired tendon-bone junction. The viscous collagen gel-containing rhBMP-2 increased the fusion rate of the repaired tendon in the bone tunnel. This study showed that viscous collagen gel can be an effective carrier for rhBMP-2 for tendon healing in the bone tunnel. The rhBMP-2-containing collagen gel will be promising for tendon-bone interface healing in the future

Activation of CD147 with Cyclophilin A Induces the Expression of IFITM1 through ERK and PI3K in THP-1 Cells

CD147, as a receptor for Cyclophilins, is a multifunctional transmembrane glycoprotein. In order to identify genes that are induced by activation of CD147, THP-1 cells were stimulated with Cyclophilin A and differentially expressed genes were detected using PCR-based analysis. Interferon-induced transmembrane 1 (IFITM1) was detected to be induced and it was confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. CD147-induced expression of IFITM1 was blocked by inhibitors of ERK, PI3K, or NF-κB, but not by inhibitors of p38, JNK, or PKC. IFITM1 appears to mediate inflammatory activation of THP-1 cells since cross-linking of IFITM1 with specific monoclonal antibody against it induced the expression of proinflammatory mediators such as IL-8 and MMP-9. These data indicate that IFITM1 is one of the pro-inflammatory mediators that are induced by signaling initiated by the activation of CD147 in macrophages and activation of ERK, PI3K, and NF-κB is required for the expression of IFITM1

The effect of phenylephrine on the onset time of rocuronium

BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated that ephedrine shortens the onset time of muscle relaxants, and it does so probably by increasing the cardiac output. However, elevation of the systemic blood pressure through α adrenergic stimulation via ephedrine may affect the onset of muscle relaxants during the induction of anesthesia. We investigated the effect of phenylephrine, which is a selective α-1 agonist, on the onset time of rocuronium and the intubating conditions in adults after the administration of propofol. METHODS: Sixty-four patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Phenylephrine (0.9 µg/kg) (P group) or the same volume of saline (S group) was injected before rocuronium (0.6 mg/kg) administration. Anesthesia was induced with fentanyl 2 µg/kg and propofol 2 mg/kg. The onset time was defined as the time from the end of rocuronium injection to the time when a single twitch height gets to 0% or the minimum level. A well-trained anesthesiologist who was 'blinded' to the treatment groups evaluated the intubating conditions. The mean arterial pressure and heart rate were recorded before induction, before intubation, immediately after intubation and 1 minute and 2 minutes after intubation. RESULTS: The onset time was 84 ± 18 sec in the P-group and 72 ± 14 sec in the S-group. There was no difference of the intubating conditions, the mean arterial pressure and the heart rate between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: A small dose of phenylephrine, which has a limited effect on blood pressure, delayed the onset time of rocuronium after the administration of propofol, and the vasoconstriction effect of phenylephrine may affect the prolongation of the rocuronium onset time at the induction of anesthesia with using propofol.ope

Regulatory gaps between LNG carriers and LNG fuelled ships

Given a number of marine vessels treating the liquefied natural gas either as cargo or fuel, this paper examined the regulatory gaps of two different international Codes – the InternationalCodeof the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk and the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-flashpoint Fuels – from the regulatory standpoint. Results of the gap analysis have identified and discussed the key areas encountered with regulatory discrepancies or ambiguities that might interrupt the proper design, construction and operation of LNG carrier and LNG fuelled ship. A systematic investigation and harmonisation process across the Codes was proposed to mitigate the potential issues that may arise from the discordant regulations. Also, the International Maritime Organization was suggested to take proactive action to improve such dissonances while a general insight into the importance of filling those gaps was provided for rule-makers and stakeholders