Investigating acceptable level of travel demand before capacity enhancement for signalized urban road networks

Increasing travel demand in urban areas triggers traffic congestion and increases delay in road networks. In this context, local authorities that are responsible for traffic operations seek to strike a balance between traffic volume and capacity to reduce total travel time on road networks. Since signalized intersections are the most critical components of road networks in terms of safety and operational issues, adjusting intersection signal timings becomes an effective method for authorities. When this tool remains incapable of overcoming traffic congestions, authorities take expensive measures such as increasing link capacities, lane additions or applying grade-separated junctions. However, it may be more useful to handle road networks as a whole by investigating the effects of optimizing signal timings of all intersections in the network. Therefore, it would be useful to investigate the right time for capacity enhancement on urban road networks to avoid premature investments considering limited resources of local authorities. In this study, effects of increasing travel demand on Total Travel Cost (TTC) is investigated by developing a bi-level programming model, called TRAvel COst Minimizer (TRACOM), in which the upper level minimizes the TTC subject to the stochastic user equilibrium link flows determined at the lower level. The TRACOM is applied to Allsop and Charlesworths’ network for different common origin-destination demand multipliers. Results revealed that TTC values showed an approximate linear increase while the travel demand is increased up to 16%. After this value, TTC showed a sudden spike although the travel demand was linearly increased that means optimizing signal timings must be supported by applying capacity enhancement countermeasures

Reinforcement learning approach for optimising traffic signal timings at isolated intersections

One of effective ways to prevent congestion and delay on urban areas is signal control at intersections. Signal systems are operated according to state of intersections either isolated or coordinated signal systems. Many researches have been investigated to improve traffic signal systems based on delay minimization or capacity maximization throughput. Due to complexity of the system, new methods are needed to improve efficiency of signalization in aroad network.Signal setting parameters are usually obtained by minimizing total delay on anintersection. The delay is the key parameter which determines the level of service of an intersection. Delay is defined with two parts as an uniform and non-uniform. The uniform partof the delay is determined basically using conventional delay formulas. But the non-uniformpart is not easily determined and cannot be represent due to the nature of the problem and randomness in arrivals.In this study, Reinforcement Learning Signal Optimizer (RLSO) is used to optimize signal timings in isolated intersection because of reflecting the effect of non-uniform part ofdelay. Reinforcement Learning (RL) which is an approach to artificial intelligence that emphasizes learning by the individual from its interaction with its environment. This contrasts with classical approaches to artificial intelligence and machine learning, which have downplayed learning from interaction, focusing instead on learning from a knowledgeable teacher, or on reasoning from a complete model of the environment. RL is learning what todo-how to map situations to actions-so as to maximize a scalar reward signal. The learner isnot told which action to take, as in most forms of machine learning, but instead must discoverwhich actions yield the most reward by trying them.The aim of this paper is to minimize delay on intersections controlled by isolated signal system and to obtain operational parameters such as cycle time, green split rate. For thispurpose, the RLSO is applied to an example intersection which has four approaches and threestages. The results of RLSO were compared with field observations. The results showed thatthe RLSO is able to optimize traffic signal timings on an intersection. The proposed model also holds promise for successful application to optimize traffic signal timings at isolated intersections according to delay minimization

Knowledge, attitudes and behavior of consumers towards sustainability and ecological fashion

The knowledge, attitudes and behavior of consumers towards sustainability and ecological fashion were explored through a survey of 476 participants and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The attitude of participants towards sustainability was found to be positive. However, participants did not show positive behavior towards sustainability practices, meaning the positive attitude does not necessarily reflect on their behavior. Yet, participants who have positive attitudes towards environmental sustainability practices seem to reflect these attitudes relatively more toward their behavior. In addition, the knowledge level of participants was determined to be above the average in terms of ecological fashion. Their attitudes towards ecological fashion were also positive. Yet, this positive attitude, does not always reflect positively on behaviors. The results of this study provide a better understanding of the different factors that can influence consumer behavior towards sustainability, eco fashion and corresponding products, and thus will facilitate the implementation of relevant company strategies

Minimization Problems in Signalized Road Networks

In this study, we present a bilevel programming model in which upper level is defined as a biobjective problem and the lower level is considered as a stochastic user equilibrium assignment problem. It is clear that the biobjective problem has two objectives: the first maximizes the reserve capacity whereas the second minimizes performance index of a road network. We use a weighted-sum method to determine the Pareto optimal solutions of the biobjective problem by applying normalization approach for making the objective functions dimensionless. Following, a differential evolution based heuristic solution algorithm is introduced to overcome the problem presented by use of biobjective bilevel programming model. The first numerical test is conducted on two-junction network in order to represent the effect of the weighting on the solution of combined reserve capacity maximization and delay minimization problem. Allsop & Charlesworth's network, which is a widely preferred road network in the literature, is selected for the second numerical application in order to present the applicability of the proposed model on a medium-sized signalized road network. Results support authorities who should usually make a choice between two conflicting issues, namely, reserve capacity maximization and delay minimization. C1 [Baskan, Ozgur; Ceylan, Huseyin] Pamukkale Univ, Dept Civil Engn, Fac Engn, TR-20160 Denizli, Turkey. [Ozan, Cenk] Adnan Menderes Univ, Dept Civil Engn, Fac Engn, TR-09100 Aydin, Turkey. Document type: Articl

Using Potential Accessibility Measure for Urban Public Transportation Planning: A Case Study of Denizli, Turkey

Policy makers and planners evaluate the implementation of the urban public transport (UPT) planning studies in terms of some objective measures such as load factor, mean volume per trip, capacity usage ratio and total capacity. In some cases, improving these measures may lead an unforeseen decrease on accessibility to the opportunities in terms of UPT users. Thus, this study aims to evaluate Potential Accessibility (PA) as an efficiency measure in decision stage of UPT planning. It widely depends on fieldwork, surveys, data inventories and existing plans. In this context, a comprehensive UPT planning has been carried out through VISUM traffic simulation software by taking the PA into account, and a four-step UPT planning procedure has been proposed. The results showed that PA may alternatively be used as an evaluation instrument in decision stage of UPT planning while the objective measures are insufficient to represent the effectiveness of alternative scenarios

Czy łagodny stan przedrzucawkowy powoduje sztywność tętnic i przebudowę komory serca poprzez zapalenie?

Background: A link between preeclampsia (PE) and excessive maternal morbidity and mortality is a commonly recognized fact. Moreover, it has been suggested that chronic inflammatory state connected with PE contributes to accelerated atherosclerosis. There is also an association between PE and maternal cardiac remodeling and biventricular diastolic dysfunction. The aim of the study was to investigate the presence of impaired myocardial performance and increased arterial stiffness in patients who experienced a mild case of PE five years previously. Methods: The study included forty PE patients (40 women; mean age 33.75±7.95) and 27 healthy volunteers (27 women; mean age 36.44±10.45)Transthoracic echocardiography, including Doppler echocardiography combined with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), and aortic stiffness index (AoSI), aortic distensibility (AoD), and aortic elastic modulus (AoEM) values were measured in each study participant. Results: There was a statistically significant increase in hsCRP, aortic stiffness index, and aortic elastic modulus in PE patients as compared to controls (2.43±1.91 vs. 3.80±2.06, p=0.007; 3.09±2.41 vs. 7.32±6.89, p=0.001; 2.89±2.11 vs. 7.00± 6.83, p=0.001), while a significant decrease was observed in the aortic strain and distensibility (respectively, 22.35±15.99 vs. 12.24±9.22, p=0.005; 11.17±9.68 vs. 6.13±4.99, p=0.018). No differences between the two groups were observed with regard to the left ventricular myocardial performance index (MPI) (0.55±0.16 vs. 0.53± 0.19, p= 0.630). Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this has been the first study to demonstrate impaired aortic elasticity and unaffected myocardial performance index in patients with mild PE. Moreover, these effects turned out to be significantly correlated with inflammation.Wstęp: Istnieje powiązanie pomiędzy stanem przedrzucawkowym (PE) a nadmierną zachorowalnością i śmiertelnością. Ponadto, sugeruje się, że przewlekły stan zapalny udzielający się w PE przyczynia się do przyspieszenia miażdżycy. Istnieje również związek między PE przebudowy mięśnia sercowego ze strony matki i dwukomorową dysfunkcją rozkurczową. Zaplanowaliśmy ocenić w tym badaniu, czy nie została osłabiona wydolność mięśnia sercowego oraz zwiększenie sztywności tętnic u pacjentek, które pięć lat wcześniej miały łagodny przypadek PE. Metody: W badanie włączonych zostało czterdzieści pacjentek (40 kobiet; średnia wieku 33,75±7,95) oraz 27 zdrowych ochotniczek (27 kobiet: średnia wieku: 36,44±10,45). Każda z pacjentek została zbadana za pomocą echokardiografii przezklatkowej, w tym echokardiografii dopplerowskiej w połączeniu z tkankową echokardiografią dopplerowską (TDI). Zostały również zmierzone takie wartości, jak wskaźnik sztywności aorty (AoSI), rozciągliwość aorty, a także moduł sprężystości aorty (AoEM). Wyniki: Stwierdzono statystycznie istotny wzrost hsCRP, wskaźnika sztywności aorty i modułu sprężystości aorty u pacjentów z PE w porównaniu z grupą kontrolną (2,43±1,91vs. 3,80±2,06, p=0.007; 3,09±2,41 vs. 7,32±6,89, p=0,001; 2,89±2,11 vs. 7,00± 6,83, p=0,001), natomiast znaczne zmniejszenie zaobserwowano w odkształceniu aorty i jej rozciągliwości (odpowiednio 22,35±15,99 vs. 12,24±9,22, p= 0,005; 11,17±9,68 vs. 6,13±4,99, p=0.018). Nie wystąpiły różnice pomiędzy tymi dwoma grupami w odniesieniu do wskaźnika wydolności mięśnia sercowego lewej komory (0,55± 0,16 vs 0,53± 0,19, p=0,630). Wnioski: Stwierdziliśmy po raz pierwszy w tym badaniu, że wystąpiły osłabiona elastyczność aorty i niezmieniony wskaźnik wydolność mięśnia sercowego (MPI) u pacjentek z łagodnym PE, ponadto, efekty te były znacząco skorelowane ze stanem zapalnym

Radioguided occult lesion localization versus wire-guided localization for non-palpable breast lesions: randomized controlled trial

AIM: This prospective randomized clinical study was conducted to compare radioguided occult lesion localization (ROLL) with wire-guided localization to evaluate optimum localization techniques for non-palpable breast lesions. METHODS: A total of 108 patients who were undergoing an excisional biopsy for non-palpable breast lesions requiring pathologic diagnosis were randomly assigned to the ROLL group (n = 56) and wire-guided localization group (n = 52). In the study, patients' characteristics, radiological abnormalities, radiological technique of localization, localization time, operation time, weight of the excised specimen, clearance margins, pathological diagnosis and perioperative complications were assessed. RESULTS: There were no differences between the two groups in terms of age, radiological abnormalities and localization technique (p = non-significant for all). ROLL techniques resulted in 100% retrieval of the lesions; for the wire-guided localization technique, 98%. Both localization time and operation time were significantly reduced with the ROLL technique (p = significant for all). The weight of the specimen was significantly lower in the ROLL group than in the wire-guided localization group (p = significant). The overall complication rate and pathological diagnosis were similar for both groups (p = non-significant for all). Clear margins were achieved in 91% of ROLL patients and in 53% of wire-guided localization patients, and the difference was significant. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicated that the ROLL technique is as effective as wire-guided localization for the excision of non-palpable breast lesions. In addition, ROLL improved the outcomes by reducing localization and operation time, preventing healthy tissue excision and achieving clearer margins

ASSOCIATED POSTERIOR PELVIC INJURY PATTERNS IN TRANSVERSE-ORIENTED ACETABULAR FRACTURE

ABSTRACT Objective: Our study analyzed the incidence of posterior pelvic injury patterns and their influence on the surgical treatment of transverse-oriented acetabular fractures . Methods: Fifty-one transverse-oriented acetabular fracture cases admitted between 1999 and 2013 were evaluated retrospectively. Comparative studies were performed for groups organized by acetabular fracture type, degree of sacroiliac separation, and postoperative reduction quality . Results: Associated posterior pelvic injuries were found in 34 (66.7%) of the 51 patients. There were 32 sacroiliac separations in the 34 patients with associated posterior pelvic injury, and ipsilateral sacroiliac separations were more frequent in this subgroup. Measurements guided by computerized tomography showed that 16 sacroiliac separations were ≤0.5 cm (mean=0.43±0.14 cm), 10 were 0.5-1 cm (mean=0.73±0.17 cm), and the remaining 6 were &gt;1 cm (mean=1.55±0.15 cm). In the group of 34 patients with associated posterior pelvic injury, acetabular reduction was anatomic in 19 (55.9%) patients, imperfect in 10 (29.4%) patients, and poor in 5 (14.7%) patients. For isolated acetabular fractures, reduction rates were as follows: 12 (70.6%) anatomic, 3 (17.6%) imperfect, and 2 (11.8%) poor. The rate of anatomic reduction was significantly higher when sacroiliac separation was ≤0.5 cm (p=0.027) . Conclusion: Associated posterior pelvic injuries, especially ipsilateral sacroiliac joint separation, accompany most transverse-oriented acetabular fractures and may influence the quality of acetabular reduction. Level of Evidence III, Therapeutic Studies Investigating the Results of Treatment.</jats:p

Kemijski sastav endemske biljke Centaurea austro-anatolica i ispitivanje antimikrobnog djelovanja protiv multi-rezistentnih bakterija

Hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanolic extracts of the aerial parts of C. austro-anatolica Hub.-Mor. (Asteraceae) were evaluated against microorganisms, including multi-resistant bacteria, using a paper disc diffusion method. The chloroform extract exhibited significant antibacterial activity toward all bacteria tested. The chemical composition of the chloroform extract was determined by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The major compounds of the extract were caryophyllene oxide (21.32 %), spathulenol (10.86 %), n-tricosanol (9.58 %) and geranyl isovalerate (8.71 %).Heksanski, kloroformski, etil-acetatni i etanolni ekstrakti vršnih dijelova biljke C. austro-anatolica Hub.-Mor. (Asteraceae) ispitivani su na antimikrobno djelovanje protiv multi-rezistentnih bakterija, koristeći difuzijsku metodu na papirnom disku. Kloroformski ekstrakt pokazao je značajno antibakterijsko djelovanje protiv svih testiranih bakterija. Kemijski sastav tog ekstrakta određivan je plinskom kromatografijom (GC) i plinskom kromatografijom-spektrometrijom masa (GC-MS). Najvažniji sastojci ekstrakta bili su kariofilen oksid (21,32 %), spatulenol (10,86 %), n-trikozanol (9,58 %) i geranil izovalerat (8,71 %)

Disruption of Biofilm Formation and Quorum Sensing in Pathogenic Bacteria by Compounds from Zanthoxylum Gilletti (De Wild) P.G. Waterman

peer reviewedMicrobial resistance is facilitated by biofilm formation and quorum-sensing mediated processes. In this work, the stem bark (ZM) and fruit extracts (ZMFT) of Zanthoxylum gilletii were subjected to column chromatography and afforded lupeol (1), 2,3-epoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyconiferyl alcohol (3), nitidine chloride (4), nitidine (7), sucrose (6) and sitosterolβ-D-glucopyranoside (2). The compounds were characterized using MS and NMR spectral data. The samples were evaluated for antimicrobial, antibiofilm and anti-quorum sensing activities. Highest antimicrobial activity was exhibited by compounds 3, 4 and 7 against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 200 µg/mL), compounds 3 and 4 against Escherichia coli (MIC = 100 µg/mL) and compounds 4 and 7 against Candida albicans (MIC = 50 µg/mL). At MIC and sub-MIC concentrations, all samples inhibited biofilm formation by pathogens and violacein production in C. violaceum CV12472 except compound 6. Good disruption of QS-sensing in C. violaceum revealed by inhibition zone diameters were exhibited by compounds 3 (11.5 ± 0.5 mm), 4 (12.5 ± 1.5 mm), 5 (15.0 ± 0.8 mm), 7 (12.0 ± 1.5 mm) as well as the crude extracts from stem barks (16.5 ± 1.2 mm) and seeds (13.0 ± 1.4 mm). The profound inhibition of quorum sensing mediated processes in test pathogens by compounds 3, 4, 5 and 7 suggests the methylenedioxy-group that these compounds possess as the possible pharmacophore