A Mixed Integer Linear Program for the Rapid Transit Network Design Problem with Static Modal Competition (Short Paper)

We present a mixed integer linear program for the rapid transit network design problem with static modal competition. Previous discrete formulations cannot handle modal competition for realistic size instances because of the complexity of modeling alternatives for each flow in the network. We overcome this difficulty by exploiting a pre-assigned topological configuration. Results of a case study will be presented at the conference

Dorsal Prefrontal Cortex Impairment in Methoxetamine-Induced Psychosis: an 18F-FDG PET/CT Case Study

Submitted15 June 2018. Accepted 13 December 2018. Epub ahead of print 13 February 2019Novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) have currently become a major public health concern because of relatively easy accessibility to these compounds and difficulty in identifying them with routine laboratory techniques. Here, we report the 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computerized tomography ( 18 F-FDG PET/CT) case study of a 23-year-old man who developed a substance-induced psychotic disorder after having intravenously injected himself with an unspecified amount of methoxetamine (MXE), a ketamine derivative hallucinogen. From a clinical perspective, a blunted affective responsiveness with diminished social drive and sense of purpose, along with a profound detachment from the environment, was observed. Psychometric and neuropsychological assessments highlighted severe dissociative symptoms and lack of motivation, along with a mild impairment of verbal fluency, working memory, and attention. Patient’s 18 F-FDG PET/CT scans displayed a significant bilateral deficit of tracer uptake within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). DLPFC activity is critical to goal-oriented cognitive functions, including working memory and sustained attention. DLPFC is also involved in both the temporal integration across multiple sensory modes and in the volitional control of actions, leading to the possibility to construct logically coherent temporal configurations of thought, speech, and behavior. This report highlights that a single acute MXE intoxication may produce severe brain impairment.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Mode boundaries of automated metro and semi-rapid rail in urban transit

The research question that we pose is to what extent, and under what circumstances, full automation in metro lines defines transit mode boundaries with respect to semirapid transit. The modeling approach that we follow is based on micro-economic appraisal. Automation, beside changing the investment and operation and maintenance cost profiles of metro lines, can improve some aspects of the user experience. The low marginal cost of frequency possible with automated metro may unlock both users' benefits via reduced waiting times and crowding, and operator's savings via shorter trains and smaller platforms and stations. We show how structurally different under several configurations are the user's travel time components. In particular, we highlight the critical role that different demand and alignment patterns play in the mode comparison

Telemedicine in Parkinson's Disease: How to Ensure Patient Needs and Continuity of Care at the Time of COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: With the spread of the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, telemedicine has become the safest way to guarantee care continuity, especially for chronic disabling diseases requiring frequent medical consultations and therapeutic adjustments, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). The age-related prevalence of PD, combined with increased vulnerability due to age-related comorbidities, makes PD patients protection a priority. Methodology: We reviewed potentials and limitations of teleneurology in PD and suggested a specific battery of tests, including patient-reported outcomes, smartphone applications, and neurological examination through telemedicine. Conclusions: These tools can provide full neurological consultations, with the engagement of both patients and caregivers, and can support clinicians in defining whether patients need to access diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Telemedicine will also carry a value in the future, within conventional health care, to support clinicians in decision making, enabling more efficacious follow-up, reducing burden for caregivers, and delivering neurological expertise to local realities. These advantages are very important when there is physical distance between patients and neurologists, and when patients are not recommended to attend in-person consultations

Modeling and Solving the Tactical Berth Allocation Problem

In this paper we integrate at the tactical level two decision problems arising in container terminals: the berth allocation problem, which consists of assigning and scheduling incoming ships to berthing positions, and the quay crane assignment problem, which assigns to incoming ships a certain QC profile (i.e. number of quay cranes per working shift). We present two formulations: a mixed integer quadratic program and a linearization which reduces to a mixed integer linear program. The objective function aims, on the one hand, to maximize the total value of chosen QC profiles and, on the other hand, to minimize the housekeeping costs generated by transshipment flows between ships. To solve the problem we developed a heuristic algorithm which combines tabu search methods and mathematical programming techniques. Computational results on instances based on real data are presented and compared to those obtained through a commercial solver

Models and Heuristics for the Tactical Berth Allocation Problem with Quay-Crane Assignment and Transshipment Costs

In the context of international sea-freight container transport, we study an integrated decision problem arising in container terminal management. We consider the integration of the Berth Allocation Problem (BAP), which consists of assigning and scheduling incoming ships to berthing positions, and the Quay Crane Assignment Problem (QCAP), which assigns to incoming ships a certain QC profile (i.e. number of quay cranes per working shift). BAP and QCAP are strictly correlated, since the QC profile assigned to the incoming ships affects their handling time and has thus an impact on the berth allocation. In particular, we solve this problem at the tactical decision level, with the intent of supporting the terminal in its negotiation process with shipping lines, as the number of quay cranes is usually bounded by contracts which are discussed months in advance. With our analytical tools, we aim to allow terminal managers to assign the right value to the QC profiles proposed to shipping lines, taking into account the impact on the terminal productivity. In addition to profile evaluation, the combined solution of BAP and QCAP optimizes the utilization of terminal resources. In this work, two mixed integer formulations are presented with a quadratic and a linearized objective function, respectively. The objective function aims, on the one hand, to maximize the total value of chosen QC profiles and, on the other hand, to minimize the housekeeping costs caused by transshipment flows between ships. Both models have been validated on instances based on real data provided by MCT, a transshipment container terminal in the south of Italy. Computation confirms that the problem is hardly solvable via exact methods, hence we introduce heuristic methods, in order to find good feasible solutions in a reasonable amount of time. The proposed heuristic algorithm is based on tabu search and decomposition: each iteration consists in two phases, one aimed at finding a feasible profile assignment, the other at finding a feasible solution of the restricted problem obtained by fixing profile variables. Computational results are presented and discussed

The Tactical Berth Allocation Problem (TBAP) with quay crane assignment and transshipment-related quadratic yard costs

International sea-freight container transport has grown dramatically over the last years and container terminals play nowadays a key-role in the global shipping network. Increasing competition and competitiveness among terminals require more and more efficiency in container handling operations, both in the quayside and the landside, in order to better utilize limited resources (such as cranes, trucks, berths, storage space, etc.) as well as minimize ship's turnaround time. Operations research methods are therefore worth being use for the optimization of terminal operations. We take into account two decision problems which are usually solved hierarchically by terminal planners: the Berth Allocation Problem (BAP), which consists of assigning and scheduling incoming ships to berthing positions, and the Quay Crane Assignment Problem (QCAP), which assigns to incoming ships a certain QC profile (i.e. number of quay cranes per working shift). These two problems are indeed strictly correlated: the QC profile assigned to the incoming ships affects their handling time and has thus an impact on the berth allocation. In this work, we aim to combine BAP with QCAP and analyze the resulting new integrated problem from the point of view of a transshipment terminal. We solve this problem at the tactical decision level, with the intent of supporting the terminal in its negotiation process with shipping lines, as the number of quay cranes is usually bounded by contracts which are discussed months in advance. Devised analytic tools and quantitative methods allow terminal managers to assign the right value to the QC profiles proposed to shipping lines, considering their impact on the terminal productivity. In addition to profile evaluation, the combined solution of these two problems optimizes the utilization of terminal resources. Alternative objectives are used for this purpose, such as the minimization of total distance covered to move containers, the minimization of ships turnaround time, etc. Starting from a collaboration with the transshipment terminal of Gioia Tauro in Italy, one of the busiest in Europe, we propose a new model for the Tactical Berth Allocation Problem (TBAP) with Quay Crane Assignment, which has been validated on real-world instances provided by the terminal, taking into account a time horizon up to one month. The objective function aims, on the one hand, to maximize the total value of chosen QC profiles and, on the other hand, to minimize the housekeeping costs caused by transshipment flows between ships. Preliminary results obtained through commercial software will be presented and further methodological approaches to the problem, such as decomposition techniques, will be outlined

Liposomes as a Putative Tool to Investigate NAADP Signaling in Vasculogenesis

none8noNicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) is the newest discovered intracellular second messengers, which is able to release Ca(2+) stored within endolysosomal (EL) vesicles. NAADP-induced Ca(2+) signals mediate a growing number of cellular functions, ranging from proliferation to muscle contraction and differentiation. Recently, NAADP has recently been shown to regulate angiogenesis by promoting endothelial cell growth. It is, however, still unknown whether NAADP stimulates proliferation also in endothelial progenitor cells, which are mobilized in circulation after an ischemic insult to induce tissue revascularization. Herein, we described a novel approach to prepare NAADP-containing liposomes, which are highly cell membrane permeable and are therefore amenable for stimulating cell activity. Accordingly, NAADP-containing liposomes evoked an increase in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration, which was inhibited by NED-19, a selective inhibitor of NAADP-induced Ca(2+) release. Furthermore, NAADP-containing liposomes promoted EPC proliferation, a process which was inhibited by NED-19 and BAPTA, a membrane permeable intracellular Ca(2+) buffer. Therefore, NAADP-containing liposomes stand out as a promising tool to promote revascularization of hypoxic/ischemic tissues by favoring EPC proliferation. J. Cell. Biochem. 9999: 1-8, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.openDi Nezza, Francesca; Zuccolo, Estella; Poletto, Valentina; Rosti, Vittorio; De Luca, Antonio; Moccia, Francesco; Guerra, Germano; Ambrosone, LuigiDi Nezza, Francesca; Zuccolo, Estella; Poletto, Valentina; Rosti, Vittorio; De Luca, Antonio; Moccia, Francesco; Guerra, Germano; Ambrosone, Luig

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Phenols induce authophagy and apoptosis in human bladder cancer cell lines depending on tumor progression

Epidemiological evidences indicate that there is an inverse association between olive oil intake and bladder cancer risk and several data suggest that a key role to support these beneficial effects is played by its phenolic fraction. Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers in Western countries. In particular, the transitional cell carcinoma histotype shows an aggressive behavior and the current therapies are ineffective. The anti-proliferative effects of an Extra Virgin Olive Oil phenolic Extract (EVOOE) has been investigated on RT112 and J82, two human bladder cancer cell lines employed as models of superficial and invasive bladder cancer, respectively.EVOOE reduces cell viability in both cell lines triggering different processes. In RT112 cells, EVOOE triggers a non-protective autophagic response, evidenced by vacuoles formation and LC-3 lipidation (45%) causing a delay in cell growth (132microg/ml induces 30% reduction). Instead, in J82, the invasive transitional cell carcinoma, EVOOE treatment induces a rapid and remarkable decrease of cell viability (33 microg/ml for 24 h induces 40% reduction) triggering an apoptotic process, evidenced with Annexin V positivity and the increased activity of caspases 3 and 9. EVOOE exerts an antioxidant activity in both cell lines reducing ROS (30% in J82 and 15% in RT112) and increasing GSH level (20% in J82 and 40% in RT112). However, comparing the effects of EVOOE with those of other well-known antioxidants, the absence of correlation between antioxidant effects and reduced cell viability was evidenced. Moreover, using an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, we demonstrated that EVOOE acts independently from GSH modulation.Data presented show that EVOOE possesses pleiotropic activities that intercept different pathways resulting in anti-proliferative effects independently of its antioxidant propert

A new role of red wine in modulating erythrocytes antioxidant defense

Dealcoholated red wine has been shown to exert protective effects, reducing the risk of cardiovascular events by improving endothelium-dependent vasodilation and inhibiting platelet aggregation These biological activities have been associated with the polyphenolic components of red wine, suggesting that the pool of phenolic compounds, including flavonoids and anthocyanins, could be responsible for its functional effects. The concept that antioxidant properties of polyphenols could explain the beneficial effects of red wine has been carried forward. Here, we hypothesize a new role of red wine in modulating oxidative stress, leading to the alteration of the antioxidant potential in humans. We previously demonstrated that red wine polyphenols (RWp) protect human erythrocytes from oxidative stress by the activation of an important enzymatic system involved in neutralizing plasma free radicals, namely Plasma Membrane Redox System (PMRS). The present work investigates the underlying mechanism triggered by RWp in the activation of PMRS via the involvement of intracellular GSH. Hence, the increase of GSH intracellular concentration results from the activation of GSH-dependent enzymes, namely glutathione reductase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, of about 30% and 50% respectively after 2 min of incubation of human erythrocytes in the presence of RWp (73 ug/ml Gallic Acid Equivalents). Changes in GSH pathway induced by RW were associated with a slight but significant increase (about 15%) of ROS (reactive oxygen species) concentration. We conclude that the pro-oxidant effect of RWp promotes an adaptive stress response in human erythrocytes, which improves their antioxidant defense protecting them from oxidative stress