The Position-Aware-Market: Optimizing Freight Delivery for Less-Than-Truckload Transportation

The increasing competition faced by logistics carriers requires them to ship at lower cost and higher efficiency. In reality, however, many trucks are running empty or with a partial load. Bridging such residual capacity with real time transportation demand enhances the efficiency of the carriers. We therefore introduce the Position-Aware-Market (PAM), where transportation requests are traded in real time to utilize transportation capacities optimally. In this paper we mainly focus on the decision support system for the truck driver, which solves a profit- maximizing Pickup and Delivery Problem with Time Windows (PM-PDPTW). We propose a novel Recursive Branch-and-Bound algorithm that solves the problem optimally, and apply it to a Tabu-Search heuristic for larger problem instances. Simulations show that problems with up to 50 requests can be solved optimally within seconds. Larger problems with 200 requests can be solved approximately by Tabu-Search in seconds, retaining 60% of the optimal profit

A MULTI-VEHICLE PROFITABLE PICKUP AND DELIVERY SELECTION PROBLEM WITH TIME WINDOWS

Today the transportation market is highly competitive yet asymmetric. Large carriers enjoy market power from economies of scale and better networking. Small carriers rely on horizontal cooperation between each other to compete with, usually by trading on freight exchanges. One major challenge for small carriers is how to select requsts so that the total profit from the delivery can be maximized. Thus in this paper we model it as a Profitable Pickup and Delivery Selection Problem, which is a generalization of the classic Pickup and Delivery Problem, but with a goal of profit maximization and it does not require all requsts to be delivered. For a solution, we propose a simple graph search that traverses through feasible routes to solve the problem optimally. Preliminary computer experiments show that random Euclidean instances with up to 500 requsts can be solved optimally within seconds in a single-vehicle setup, and up to 50 requsts and 4 vehicles in minutes for the multi-vehicle cases, both of which are faster than the solution by the GUROBI Optimizer. For multi-vehicle cases, we also devise a greedy heuristic that is able to find a 99% optimal solution in less than a second

Making the most of fleets: A profit-maximizing multi-vehicle pickup and delivery selection problem

ISSN:0377-2217ISSN:1872-686

Camptothecin-20(s)-O-[N-(3’α,12’α-dihydroxy-24’-carbonyl-5’β-cholan)]-lysine, a Novel Camptothecin Analogue, Induces Apoptosis towards Hepatocellular Carcinoma SMMC-7721 Cells

Camptothecin-20(s)-O-[N-(3’α,12’α-dihydroxy-24’-carbonyl-5’β-cholan)]-lysine (B2) is a novel camptothecin analogue. Our previous study had shown that it displayed higher cytoxicity activity towards hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells than camptothecin (CPT) in vitro. In this paper, the underlying mechanism of anti-proliferation of B2 towards SMMC-7721 cells was further examined. Cell growth inhibition of B2 was determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay; morphological changes were observed under Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope (LSCM); cell cycle distribution, apoptotic population, changes in mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular calcium concentration and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were determined by flow cytometry (FCM). Activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were measured, and the expression level of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were analyzed by Western blot. The results suggested that B2 inhibited SMMC-7721 cell growth by causing cell cycle arrest at the S and G2/M phases, and induced apoptosis involving a mitochondrial pathway. B2 appears to cause a high induction of apoptosis on SMMC-7721 cells in vitro, which suggests it might be a potential drug for cancer therapy

New Insights into the Crystal Structures of Plutonium Hydrides from First-Principles Calculations

One of the important research contents on hydrogen corrosion of plutonium is the determination of the complex crystal structures of plutonium hydrides and the bonding interactions between plutonium and hydrogen. However, it is very difficult to carry out the structural characterization of plutonium hydrides because of their high activity, high toxicity, and radioactivity. In this work, the crystal structures, lattice vibrations, and bonding properties of plutonium hydrides under ambient pressure are investigated by means of the density functional theory + <i>U</i> approach. Results show that PuH₃ exhibits many competition phase structures. After considering spin polarization, strong correlation (<i>U</i>), and spin–orbit coupling effects on the total energy and lattice dynamics stability, it is found that PuH₃ at ambient pressure is more likely to be hexagonal <i>P</i>6₃<i>cm</i> or trigonal <i>P</i>3<i>c</i>1 structure, instead of the usual supposed structures of hexagonal <i>P</i>6₃/<i>mmc</i> (LaF₃-type) and face-centered cubic (BiF₃-type). The calculated electronic structures clearly indicate that <i>P</i>6₃<i>cm</i> (<i>P</i>3<i>c</i>1) PuH₃ is a semiconductor with a small band gap about 0.87 eV (0.85 eV). The Pu–H bonds in Pu hydrides are dominated by the ionic interactions

A survey of chronic pain in China

There is an extensive body of research about chronic pain and treatment in developed countries. In contrast there is a lack of research on this topic in developing countries including China. This study was aimed to estimate the prevalence of chronic pain in different regions of China. Data on pain and its treatment were collected from 9357 participants using questionnaires and telephone-based interviews, from 31 regions of China. Gathered data were then coded into electronic data acquisition system and descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was performed. Out of 9298 participants, the ratio of chronic pain was 31.54% with the proportion of male having chronic pain (33.86%) was higher than that of female (29.53%). The average age of participants with pain (45.02 ± 15.07 years) was higher than free-pain participants (36.19 ± 11.12 years). There were also significant differences between groups in occupation, education levels, and illness history. Proportion of patients with pain duration of 1 year was 12.104%, between 1 and 5 years was 60%, and over 10 years was 10.74%. There were 63.9% of patients with moderate pain and 36.1% with severe pain. About 43.042% of patients thought that pain resulted in sleep disorder, 38.99% thought that it causes anxiety, and about 33% thought depression and irritable bowel was the result of their pain. For the chronic pain, more than half of patients used naprapathy, cupping, and other physical therapies. Up to 2016, the ratio of pain incidence was over 30% in China. The location of pain was focused on back and upper limb. There has been a lack of proper treatment. Patients with pain had obvious economic burden, and their quality of life and psychology were significantly affected

Predictors on delay of initial health-seeking in new pulmonary tuberculosis cases among migrants population in East China.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the length of delay in initial health-seeking in new pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) cases among migrant population in the eastern part of China, and factors associated with it. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured questionnaire in six counties in Shanghai, Guangdong and Jiangsu from May to October, 2008, to estimate the extent and factors responsible for delayed initial health-seeking of the new PTB cases. The interval between self-reported onset of TB symptoms and date of first attendance at any medical institution was determined. More than the median duration was defined as delayed health-seeking. RESULTS: A total of 323 new migrant PTB patients participated in the study. Only 6.5% had medical insurance. The median and mean durations to initial health-seeking were respectively 10 and 31 days. There was no significant association between socio-demographic factors and delayed initial health-seeking. Average monthly working days >24 (AOR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.03-2.51), and hemoptysis or bloody sputum (AOR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.28-0.85) were significantly associated with delayed initial health-seeking. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to improve health seeking behavior among the migrant population in China must focus on strengthening their labor, medical security and health education

Magnetic Resonance-Guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Hypothalamic Hamartoma: Surgical Approach and Treatment Outcomes

Hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) is a rare lesion consisting of normal neurons and neuroglia arranged in an abnormal pattern which usually causes gelastic seizures (GS). Magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) has been developed as a minimally invasive approach to treat HH and gradually become a first-line treatment. In total, this study enrolled 47 consecutive HH patients that underwent one round of ablation. Patients were followed for at least one year. Patients’ medical records and surgical information were carefully reviewed, and univariate analyses were performed. Of the treated patients, 72.3% remained GS-free in this study, with an overall Engel class I rate of 68.1%. Long-term postoperative complications occurred in six patients. Factors associated with GS prognosis included Delalande classification (p = 0.033), HH volume (p = 0.01), and the ablation rate of the HH body (p = 0.035). The disconnection rate was 0.73 ± 0.14 in the Engel class Ia group as compared to 0.62 ± 0.13 in the Engel Ib–Engel IV group (p = 0.046). MRgLITT represents a safe and effective surgical procedure. Patients with larger or Delalande type IV HH may require multiple rounds of ablation. In addition to assessing the degree of disconnection, ablation volume should also be carefully considered for patients undergoing this procedure