A holistic metric approach to solving the dynamic location-allocation problem.

In this paper, we introduce a dynamic variant of the Location-Allocation problem: Dynamic Location-Allocation Problem (DULAP). DULAP involves the location of facilities to service a set of customer demands over a defined horizon. To evaluate a solution to DULAP, we propose two holistic metric approaches: Static and Dynamic Approach. In the static approach, a solution is evaluated with the assumption that customer locations and demand remain constant over a defined horizon. In the dynamic approach, the assumption is made that customer demand, and demographic pattern may change over the defined horizon. We introduce a stochastic model to simulate customer population and distribution over time. We use a Genetic Algorithm and Population-Based Incremental Learning algorithm used in previous work to find robust and satisfactory solutions to DULAP. Results show the dynamic approach of evaluating a solution finds good and robust solutions

Development and characterization of 3CaO.P2O5-SiO2-MgO glass-ceramics with different crystallization degree

The CaO-P2O5-SiO2-MgO system presents several compounds used as biomaterials such as hydroxyapatite (HA), tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and TCP with magnesium substituting partial calcium (TCMP). The beta-TCMP phase with whitlockite structure has interesting biological features and mechanical properties, meeting the requirements of a bioactive material for bone restoration. In this work, the production of Mg-doped TCP, beta-TCMP, has been investigated by crystallization from a glass composed of 52.75 wt% 3CaO center dot P2O5, 30 wt% SiO2 and 17.25 wt% MgO (i.e., 31.7 mol% CaO, 10.6 mol% P2O5, 26.6 mol% MgO and 31.1 mol% SiO2) using heat treatments between 775. and 1100 degrees C for up to 8 h. The devitrification process of the glass has been accompanied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD), relative density and bending strength measurements. The characterization by HRXRD and DSC revealed the occurrence of whitlockite soon after the bulk glass preparation, a transient non-cataloged silicate between 800 degrees C and 1100 degrees C, and the formation of diopside in samples treated at 1100 degrees C as crystalline phases. The overall crystalline fraction varied from 26% to 70% depending on the heat treatments. Furthermore, contraction of the a-axis lattice parameter and expansion of the c-axis lattice parameter of the whitlockite structure have been observed during the heat treatments, which were attributed to the beta-TCMP formation with the partial substitution of Ca2+ by Mg2+. Relative densities near 99% and 97% for the glass and glass-ceramics respectively indicated a discrete reduction as a function of the devitrification treatment. Bending strengths of 70 MPa and 120 MPa were determined for the glass and glass-ceramic material crystallized at 975 degrees C for 4 h, respectively

Temporal-spatial profiling of pedunculopontine galanin-cholinergic neurons in the lactacystin rat model of Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is conventionally seen as resulting from single-system neurodegeneration affecting nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. However, accumulating evidence indicates a multi-system degeneration and neurotransmitter deficiencies, including cholinergic neurons which degenerate in a brainstem nucleus, the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN), resulting in motor- and cognitive impairments. The neuropeptide galanin can inhibit cholinergic transmission, whilst being upregulated in degenerating brain regions associated with cognitive decline. Here we determined the temporal-spatial profile of progressive expression of endogenous galanin within degenerating cholinergic neurons, across the rostro-caudal axis of the PPN, by utilising the lactacystin-induced rat model of PD. First, we show progressive neuronal death affecting nigral dopaminergic and PPN cholinergic neurons, reflecting that seen in PD patients, to facilitate use of this model for assessing the therapeutic potential of bioactive peptides. Next, stereological analyses of the lesioned brain hemisphere found that the number of PPN cholinergic neurons expressing galanin increased by 11%, compared to sham-lesioned controls, increasing by a further 5% as the neurodegenerative process evolved. Galanin upregulation within cholinergic PPN neurons was most prevalent closest to the intra-nigral lesion site, suggesting that galanin upregulation in such neurons adapt intrinsically to neurodegeneration, to possibly neuroprotect. This is the first report on the extent and pattern of galanin expression in cholinergic neurons across distinct PPN subregions in both the intact rat CNS and lactacystin lesioned rats. The findings pave the way for future work to target galanin signaling in the PPN, to determine the extent to which upregulated galanin expression could offer a viable treatment strategy for ameliorating PD symptoms associated with cholinergic degeneration

Clinical and Virological Study of Dengue Cases and the Members of Their Households: The Multinational DENFRAME Project

Dengue is the most important mosquito-borne viral disease in humans. This disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries and threatens more than 2.5 billion people living in tropical countries. It currently affects about 50 to 100 million people each year. It causes a wide range of symptoms, from an inapparent to mild dengue fever, to severe forms, including dengue hemorrhagic fever. Currently no specific vaccine or antiviral drugs are available. We carried out a prospective clinical study in South-East Asia and Latin America, of virologically confirmed dengue-infected patients attending the hospital, and members of their households. Among 215 febrile dengue subjects, 177 agreed to household investigation. Based on our data, we estimated the proportion of dengue-infected household members to be about 45%. At the time of the home visit, almost three quarters of (29/39) presented an inapparent dengue infection. The proportion of inapparent dengue infection was higher in South-East Asia than in Latin America. These findings confirm the complexity of dengue disease in humans and the need to strengthen multidisciplinary research efforts to improve our understanding of virus transmission and host responses to dengue virus in various human populations