Design of an Intelligent Traffic Light Control System

Today, the number of cars is rapidly increasing which creates a real traffic control problem. While the conventional traffic control systems are inconvenient to provide fast and fair solutions for the congestion problem. This research addresses the traffic control problem and hence proposes an intelligent traffic light control system. In particular, the proposed system senses the presence or absence of cars on each lane, and then estimates the time to open each lane, which is proportional to the number of cars on that lane. Practically, the system circuit has been printed on a board with three main components; namely pressure sensors, microcontroller, and traffic lights. Then a C program has been developed to enable the microcontroller for receiving inputs from sensors, calculating the times to open lanes and sending appropriate logic decisions to traffic light. The obtained results prove the accuracy and reliability of the system.    In addition to the practical test, the intelligent traffic light control system has been successfully simulated, where the simulation results are found to be the same as the calculated ones

The effect of high altitude on endothelial and vascular dysfunction markers in preeclamptic patients

Placental hypoxia, a major component of the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, is associated with various maternal vascular and endothelial dysfunctions. The higher incidence of preeclampsia at high altitude remains incompletely explained. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of high altitude on some endothelial and vascular dysfunction markers in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. Eighty pregnant women (Paras 2–4) were enrolled in this study, which included four groups (each n = 20): normal pregnancies at low altitude (NL), normal pregnancies at high altitude (NH), preeclamptic pregnancies at low altitude (PL), and preeclamptic pregnancies at high altitude (PH). In normal pregnancies at high altitude serum ET-1, plasma TXA2, and serum TNF-α levels increased significantly with a significant reduction in plasma PGI2 (66.81 ± 7.36, 122.86 ± 13.37, 102.23 ± 13.31, 191.57 ± 19.68, respectively) compared with the NL group (48.92 ± 4.58, 89.03 ± 10.67, 69.86 ± 7.97, 238.01 ± 24.55, respectively). In preeclampsia at low altitude serum ET-1, plasma TXA2, and serum TNF-α levels increased significantly with a significant reduction in plasma PGI2 (88.39 ± 9.54, 162.73 ± 15.92, 142.39 ± 15.37, 149.155 ± 15.66, respectively) compared with both NL and NH groups. High altitude significantly augmented these changes in preeclamptic patients (117.75 ± 12.96, 211.01 ± 22.69, 196.86 ± 17.64, 111.92 ± 10.74) compared with PL, NH and NL groups. In conclusion hypoxia at high altitude aggravated the disturbances in the levels of ET-1, TXA2, PGI2 and TNF-α associated with preeclampsia. This may contribute to the higher risk of preeclampsia at high altitude

The role of sources of social support on depression and quality of life for university students.

Prevalence of mental health problems in university students is increasing and attributable to academic, financial and social stressors. Lack of social support is a known determinant of mental health problems. We examined the differential impact of sources of social support on student wellbeing. University students completed an online survey measuring depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)), social support (Multidimensional Perceived Social Support (MPSS)), and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF). The sample was 461 students (82% female, mean age 20.62 years). The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 33%. Social support from family, and friends was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms (p = 0.000*). Quality of life (psychological) was significantly predicted by social support from family and friends. Quality of life (social relationships) was predicted by social support from significant others and friends. Sources of social support represent a valuable resource for universities in protecting the mental health of students

Comparison of care and outcomes for myocardial infarction by heart failure status between United Kingdom and Japan

Aims: Prognosis for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is worse when heart failure is present on admission. Understanding clinical practice in different health systems can identify areas for quality improvement initiatives to improve outcomes. In the absence of international comparison studies, we aimed to compare treatments and in-hospital outcomes of patients admitted with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by heart failure status in two healthcare-wide cohorts. Methods and results: We used two nationwide databases to capture admissions with STEMI in the United Kingdom (Myocardial ischemia National Audit Project, MINAP) and Japan (Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases-Diagnostic Procedure Combination, JROAD-DPC) between 2012 and 2017. Participants were stratified using the HF Killip classification into three groups; Killip 1: no congestive heart failure, Killip 2–3: congestive heart failure, Killip 4: cardiogenic shock. We calculated crude rate and case mix standardized risk ratios (CSRR) for use of treatments and in-hospital death. Patients were younger in the United Kingdom (65.4 [13.6] vs. 69.1 [13.0] years) and more likely to have co-morbidities in the United Kingdom except for diabetes and hypertension. Japan had a higher percentage of heart failure and cardiogenic shock patients among STEMI during admission than that in the United Kingdom. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) rates were lower in the United Kingdom compared with Japan, especially for patients presenting with Killip 2–3 class heart failure (pPCI use in patients with Killip 1, 2–3, 4: Japan, 86.2%, 81.7%, 78.7%; United Kingdom, 79.6%, 58.2% and 79.9%). In contrast, beta-blocker use was consistently lower in Japan than in the United Kingdom (61.4% vs. 90.2%) across Killip classifications and length of hospital stay longer (17.0 [9.7] vs. 5.0 [7.4] days). The crude rate of in-hospital mortality increased with increasing Killip class group. Both the crude rate and CSRR was higher in the United Kingdom compared with Japan for Killip 2–3 (15.8% vs. 6.4%, CSRR 1.80 95% CI 1.73–1.87, P < 0.001), and similar for Killip 4 (36.9% vs. 36.3%, CSRR 1.11 95% CI 1.08–1.13, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Important differences in the care and outcomes for STEMI with heart failure exist between the United Kingdom and Japan. Specifically, in the United Kingdom, there was a lower rate of pPCI, and in Japan, fewer patients were prescribed beta blockers and hospital length of stay was longer. This international comparison can inform targeted quality improvement programmes to narrow the outcome gap between health systems

Impact of pre-existing vascular disease on clinical outcomes in patients with non-ST-segment myocardial infarction: a nationwide cohort study.

AIMS: Little is known about the outcomes and processes of care of patients with non ST-segment myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) who present with 'polyvascular' disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed 287,279 NSTEMI patients using the Myocardial Infarction National Audit Project (MINAP) registry. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were analysed according to history of affected vascular bed; coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) and peripheral vascular disease (PVD), with comparison to a historically disease-free control group; comprising 167,947 patients (59%). After adjusting for demographics and management, polyvascular disease was associated with increased likelihood of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (CAD OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01-1.12, P = 0.02) (CeVD OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.12-1.27, P<0.001) (PVD OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.13-1.33, P<0.001) and in-hospital mortality (CeVD OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.16-1.32, P<0.001) (PVD OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.21-1.46, P<0.001). Patients without vascular disease were less frequently discharged on statins (PVD 88%, CeVD 86%, CAD 90% and control 78%), and those with moderate (ejection fraction (EF) 30-49%) or severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) (EF<30%), were less frequently discharged on angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) (CAD 82%, CeVD 77%, PVD 77%, control 74%). Patients with polyvascular disease were less likely to be discharged on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) (PVD 78%, CeVD 77%, CAD 80%, control 87%). CONCLUSION: Polyvascular disease patients had a higher incidence of in-hospital mortality and MACE. Patients with no history of vascular disease were less likely to receive statins or ACE inhibitors/ARBs, but more likely to receive DAPT