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Road networks are instrumental in resource allocation and preevacuation, and profoundly affect disaster response and recovery, particularly emergent-disaster logistics and island rescues. Disruptions to road networks impair daily operations, irrespective of whether they are damaged by external forces or failures in interacting elements. However, functional interdependency is absent from transportation vulnerability assessments. This study thus constructed a framework to assess the interdependent vulnerability of road network failures. Based on eleven fragile factors developed in the literature and an empirical case study in the Taipei metropolitan area, road network vulnerability is determined by fuzzy cognitive maps and geographic information systems for functional and spatial interactions, respectively. The analytical results indicate that road network vulnerability is underestimated if the interdependency is neglected. Delay time on the shortest substitution, level of service on adjacent links, and inaccessibility to hospital emergency centers significantly affect vulnerability. Whereas certain socioeconomic resilience is performed in the short term, spatial-functional interdependency dilutes those effects in the long term. The framework developed facilitates decision makers in understanding interdependent vulnerabilities and adopting appropriate strategies to improve vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maximizing transport diversity is critical to the equitable achievement of stakeholder needs. Resource allocation policies help planners decide when and how to invest transportation infrastructure and services. However, policies for improving transport diversity are difficult to design, implement, and quantify because of the uncertainty, feedback interaction, and complexity of system relationships. This study proposes a hybrid model integrating system dynamics, cognitive maps, and a sensitivity model to tackle the problems. The model application is illustrated through an empirical study to enhance the managerial implications in the Taipei metropolitan area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Seizure is a common poisoning-related neurological presentation in the emergency department (ED). Although brain computed tomography (CT) is recommended in patients presenting with first seizures, its role in patients with a suspected drug/substance-induced seizure (DSS) remains inconclusive. This study evaluated whether brain CT examination changes the management and outcome of DSS patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed adult patients presenting to the ED with a DSS in Linkou and Taipei Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, from January 2008 to December 2015. We also analyzed whether the brain CT examinations found meaningful acute abnormalities and their impact on subsequent management. We compared the differences between DSS patients undergoing CT scans or not to identify factors that affect the decision to arrange brain CT. Results: The study enrolled 97 patients (69 males). The most common cause of DSS was alcohol withdrawal (58.76%), followed by carbon monoxide (12.37%) and stimulants (8.25%). Eight (8.25%) patients developed status epilepticus, 15 (15.46%) were intubated, and 37 (37.76%) were admitted, including 12 (12.26%) to the intensive care unit. Brain CT was performed in 64 (66.0%) patients and four had abnormal reports that led to further imaging studies. The abnormal findings ultimately had no significant clinical impact. Patients who underwent CT scans had a worse Glasgow Coma Scale score (p = 0.024) and higher rate of status epilepticus (p = 0.031). Conclusion: Brain CT does not provide substantial information for the care of DSS patients. Multi-center prospective studies are needed to obtain stronger evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]