Zaragoza Logistics Center

This study analyses the operational efficiency of urban loading and unloading zones (LUZs) by applying queuing theory without waiting (Erlang B model) and incorporating weighted occupancy time as a fundamental metric. Six scenarios were evaluated in an urban block in Zaragoza, Spain: three using field data obtained through real world observation and three simulated. The system’s performance was compared under conditions of free access with a model that strictly enforces the municipal ordinance for Urban Goods Distribution, restricting access to authorized vehicles and maximum dwell times. The objective of this study is to evaluate the operational performance of different LUZ configurations, assessing how real versus regulation-compliant usage affects system capacity, estimated loss rates, and the spatial temporal productivity of the zones. The M/M/1/1 model in Kendall notation is suitable for representing this type of queuing-free urban environment, and weighted occupancy time proves to be a robust indicator for evaluating the performance of heterogeneous zones. The scenario assessment confirms that the sizing of these zones is correct if their proper use is guaranteed. The study concludes with recommendations and best practices for city governance in formulating urban policies aimed at developing more efficient and sustainable logistics to control land use in the LUZ.

BackgroundABvac40 is an investigational vaccine targeting Aβ40 for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Aβ40 plays a significant role in several pathological processes of AD, especially concerning amyloid deposition in blood vessels. Phase 2 trial results (NCT03461276) demonstrated a favorable safety profile, robust immunogenicity, and promising trends in cognitive outcomes and brain atrophy. To further explore the therapeutic potential of ABvac40, we aimed to assess clinical relevance at individual patient level by evaluating meaningful within‐patient changes (MWPC). This approach examines the proportion of patients experiencing significant deterioration across treatment groups, providing a method to assess the meaningfulness of treatment effects in progressive conditions like AD.MethodAB1601 was a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled phase 2 study in patients with mild cognitive impairment or very mild AD. MWPC was defined as a decline of ≥3 points in MMSE at two consecutive visits over 24 months. Cox proportional hazard models assessed the risk of MWPC, adjusting for MMSE baseline score, baseline age, APOE Ɛ4 carrier status, clinical stage and baseline use of AD medication. Patients treated with ABvac40 were stratified by CSF antibody levels into two groups: high levels (Q4) and low levels (Q1–Q3). Analyses were conducted in the PPc analysis set.ResultA total of 97 patients were included in the PPc analysis set. Of these, 69 (71.1%) were amyloid‐PET positive. In the overall population, ABvac40 significantly reduced the risk of MWPC over 24 months compared to placebo (HR=0.47; 95% CI 0.27–0.85; P=0.012). In the amyloid‐PET positive subgroup, ABvac40 showed a more pronounced protective effect (HR=0.38; 95% CI 0.20‐0.75; P=0.005). Within this subgroup, patients with lower antibody levels had a 63% lower risk of MWPC (HR=0.37; 95% CI 0.16–0.83; P=0.016), while those with higher antibody levels showed an 81% reduction (HR=0.19; 95% CI 0.04–0.84; P=0.029).ConclusionABvac40 treatment significantly reduced clinically meaningful cognitive decline, particularly in amyloid‐PET positive patients, with the strongest effects in those with the highest antibody levels. These findings highlight ABvac40’s potential to influence disease progression in early‐stage AD and warrant further studies to explore its impact on brain vessels as potential driver of the observed cognitive benefits.

Modeling human behavior is essential to accurately predict epidemic spread, with behaviors like vaccine hesitancy complicating control efforts. While epidemic spread is often treated as a simple contagion, vaccine uptake may follow complex contagion dynamics, where individuals' decisions depend on multiple social contacts. Recently, the concept of complex contagion has received strong theoretical underpinnings thanks to the generalization of spreading phenomena from pairwise to higher-order interactions. Although several potential applications have been suggested, examples of complex contagions motivated by real data remain scarce. Surveys on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the United States suggest that vaccination attitudes may indeed depend on the vaccination status of social peers, aligning with complex contagion principles. In this work, we examine the interactions between epidemic spread, vaccination, and vaccine uptake attitudes under complex contagion. Using the susceptible-infected-removed (SIR) model with a dynamic, threshold-based vaccination campaign, we simulate scenarios on an age-structured multilayer network informed by U.S. contact data. Our results offer insights into the role of social dynamics in shaping vaccination behavior and epidemic outcomes.

Background: In agricultural supply chains, unequal bargaining power often leads to economic inequality, particularly for farmers. The fair profit distribution (FPD) approach offers a solution by optimizing supply chain flows (materials, information, and money) to promote economic equity among members. However, our literature review highlights a gap in applying the FPD approach to the facility location-allocation problem in supply chain network design (SCND), particularly in sugarcane-derived biofuel supply chains. Methods: Consequently, we propose a multi-period optimization model based on FPD to design a sugarcane biofuel supply chain. The methodology involves four steps: constructing a conceptual model, developing a mathematical model, designing a solution strategy, and generating insights. This model considers both investment (crop development, biorefinery construction) and operational phases over a long-term planning horizon, focusing on farm location and crop allocation. Results: By comparing the FPD model to a traditional centralized planning supply chain (CSC) approach, we examine the impact of the planning horizon, number of farms, and sugarcane prices paid by biorefineries on financial performance. While the FPD model results in lower overall system profits, it fosters a fairer economic scenario for farmers. Conclusions: This study contributes to economic justice in supply chains and offers insights to promote fair trade among stakeholders.

The growth of the city's population and the COVID-19 crisis has increased the need to improve last-mile logistics in transportation. Many stakeholders such as policymakers, logistics operators and shippers have to collaborate to improve environmental, economic, and social performance indicators. This paper investigates the opportunities in last-mile logistics and the benefits that can be achieved by balancing all the city stakeholders' needs using Digital Twins technology. To that end, we focused on the Madrid Living Lab that sets up an Urban Consolidation Centre (UCC) located in underground public parking in the city centre, surrounded by the Madrid Low Emissions Zone (LEZ). Madrid defines cases and scenarios to understand business policies and improve decisions, such as shifting the UCC's location and defining new Low Emission Zones.

ABSTRACTObjective:The objective of this study is to assess the association between exposure to atorvastatin (ATV) and low-plasma folate (PF) status.Methods:The sample consisted of patients admitted to the internal medicine service of a basic general hospital, located in Zaragoza (Spain). We adopted a pharmacoepidemiological case–control study design. For this, the number of treatment days (TDs) of all the drugs part of their treatment during the study period was obtained from each patient in the sample. The cases were comprised by the number of patient's TDs for which PF ≤3 mg/dl and the controls by the number of patient's TDs for which PF >3 mg/dl. To measure the strength of the association, the odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. The Chi-square test, using the Bonferroni correction, was used to calculate the statistical significance.Findings:The sample consisted of 640 polymedicated patients. The mean PF obtained were 8.0 ± 4.6 mg/dl and 2.1 ± 0.6 mg/dl, for the cases and controls, respectively; the total number of TDs for the cases and controls were 7615 and 57899, respectively. We obtained a U-shaped curve when representing the dose of ATV against the corresponding ORs when comparing cases with control.Conclusion:Exposure to ATV at 10 or 80 mg is associated with an augmented risk of low folate status. We recommend implementing guidelines for mandatory folic acid fortification in patients exposed to ATV doses of 10 or 80 mg.