Optimization of resource storage location for managing flood emergencies.

Strategic infrastructure plays a key role in the functioning of urban areas, especially when dealing with emergency response to natural disasters. Urban areas and their infrastructure are threatened by natural hazards, which is likely to be exacerbated by climate change and intense urbanization in the near future. The UK National Flood Resilience Review (2016) committed £2.3 billion to be invested to reduce flood risk, of which £12.5 million specifically for temporary defenses. At present, the state of the art does not provide a proven efficient methodology specifically designed to optimally invest these resources; in light of this, a consolidated urban planning spatial optimization methodology is originally used for allocating resource storing space and ultimately optimize flood emergency management. This study developed and applied a RAOGA (Resource Allocation Optimization Genetic Algorithm) to balance the particular trade-off between simultaneous minimization of response time and costs. The presented optimization framework balances several competing tensions that include: (1) the identification of, and the cost of using, possible sites (warehouses) to store flood temporary defenses; (2) the identification of strategic infrastructure location; (3) transport optimization for moving emergency response resources into place. The methodology is applied to a regional case study (Yorkshire, UK) as proof of concept. Such a framework has the potential to lead a new generation of mathematically-based emergency response planning, targeted to policy makers dealing with urban planning and emergency management

Probability amplitude in quantum like games

Examples of games between two partners with mixed strategies, calculated by the use of the probability amplitude are given. The first game is described by the quantum formalism of spin one half system for which two noncommuting observables are measured. The second game corresponds to the spin one case. Quantum logical orthocomplemented nondistributive lattices for these two games are presented. Interference terms for the probability amplitudes are analyzed by using so called contextual approach to probability (in the von Mises frequency approach). We underline that our games are not based on using of some microscopic systems. The whole scenario is macroscopic.Comment: Quantum-like model

Caracterização socioeconômica das bacias hidrográficas dos Rios Guapi-Macacu e Caceribu.

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The effect of a clinically practical exercise on levodopa bioavailability and motor response in patients with Parkinson disease.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the potential effect of short, moderate intensity (e70% maximum heart rate) cyclette exercise on levodopa (LD)/dopa decarboxylase inhibitor bioavailability and motor response in a subgroup of Parkinson disease (PD) patients presenting a moderate-to-severe delay in fasting morning LD dose absorption and matched motor response. Methods: Ten patients underwent an oral LD instrumental kinetic-dynamic test based on simultaneous serial measurements of plasma LD concentrations, finger tapping motor effects, dyskinesia ratings plus Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale Motor Section (section III) evaluation after ingestion of their usual fasting first morning LD dose, on 2 occasions, 2 weeks apart, according to an intrasubject randomized cross-over design: once receiving their oral LD test dose immediately before a 15-minute cycling and once at seated rest. The main LD pharmacokinetic variables were time to peak, peak plasma concentration, and the area under the 4-hour plasma concentration-time curve. The main LD pharmacodynamic variables were the latency, duration of the motor effect elicited by the LD test dose, and the area under the 4-hour tapping effect-time curve. Results: The LD pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics did not differ between the 2 sessions. Conclusions: We found no significant effect of a moderate, clinically practical exercise on LD rate and extent of absorption and matched motor response in a subgroup of patients with delayed LD kinetic-dynamic effect