Acceleration Behavior of Drivers in a Platoon

A new dual-regime acceleration model was developed to represent the acceleration behavior of drivers in a platoon of vehicles. Two sets of field data collected by aerial photographic techniques were used to assess the validity of the proposed and existing acceleration models. A single regime acceleration model failed to present the acceleration behavior of drivers. The field data indicated that at around 13 m/sec the acceleration rate drops. Thus, two different acceleration rates, higher acceleration rate at lower speeds and lower acceleration rate at higher speeds, were used to provide the best fit to the data. This provided realistic acceleration behavior of drivers in a platoon. The field data sets were collected about 10 years apart. The improvements in acceleration capability of a platoon of vehicles from two different time periods were determined. Improvements in performance of vehicles were quantified using the above mentioned field data. The method of quantification can also be used to predict and model the performance of vehicles currently in use. Inversely, current vehicles can be downgraded to represent vehicles of past years and thus make use of already collected data. Important uses of the dual regime model are in modeling the traffic flow behavior and designing roadway elements that depend on acceleration behavior of drivers

Application of Spatial Statistics in Transportation Engineering

“Everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things” is the first law of geography. It can be hypothesized that spatially, occurrence of a crash can exhibit similarities. To identify spatial patterns of crashes, this chapter presents spatial autocorrelation techniques such as Moran’s I and the Getis-Ord Gi*statistics; spatial interpolation such as kriging; and nonparametric probability density function and kernel density (K). The aim of this chapter is to provide application of spatial statistics in transportation engineering specifically to identify crash concentrations and patterns of clusters in a study area

Re-recurrent Dermatofibrosarcomaprotuberans of the chest wall.

Dermatofibrosarcomaprotuberans is a rare, soft tissue tumour with high rate of recurrence. It is locally aggressive, with a low rate of metastasis. We describe the case of a 42 year old man who presented with a re-recurrent, large tumour situated on the anterior chest wall in the sternal region. We did a wide local excision and covered the resulting defect by using bilateral, pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps. Histopathology and immunohistochemical staining findings were consistent with the diagnosis of Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberance. Post operatively the patient was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy

A New Technique to Improve the Operation of Prosthetic Limbs during Muscle Fatigue

Prosthetic limbs hold a promise to renew the quality of life for the amputee. Neural commands are decoded via a classifier to generate control signals for the prosthetic devices. In the literature, many challenges and limitations have been identified that affect the prosthesis operation. One such drawback is muscle fatigue which degrades the surface electromyogram (sEMG) signals, and consequently, the performance of the deployed classification algorithm declines from 90% to 50% of average accuracy. We used a new technique using the Linear Discrimination Analysis (LDA) algorithm and the muscle synergy-based task discrimination (MSD) algorithm to improve the classification accuracy. In this technique, during muscles contraction/fatigue, we used the LDA algorithms in the beginning and the MSD algorithms later. The applied technique exhibited better movement classification performance during normal and muscle fatigue conditions. However, more work needs to be done to effectively solve the muscle fatigue problem in prosthesis design

Lafora Disease Masquerading as Hepatic Dysfunction

Lafora disease is fatal intractable progressive myoclonic epilepsy. It is frequently characterized by epileptic seizures, difficulty walking, muscle spasms, and dementia in late childhood or adolescence. We chronicle here an unusual case of an asymptomatic young male soccer player who presented with elevated liver enzymes. Neurological examination was unremarkable. The diagnostic workup for hepatitis, infectious etiologies, autoimmune disorders, hemochromatosis, Wilson\u27s disease, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and other related diseases was inconclusive. He subsequently underwent an uneventful percutaneous liver biopsy. Based on the pathognomonic histopathological findings, Lafora disease was considered the likely etiology. The present study is a unique illustration of this rare disorder initially manifesting with abnormal liver enzymes. It underscores the importance of clinical suspicion of Lafora disease in cases with unexplained hepatic dysfunction. Prompt liver biopsy and genetic testing should be performed to antedate the onset of symptoms in these patients

Research Notes : Pakistan : Variability for some quantitative traits in soybean

Abstract: Studies on variability in soybean were taken up to work out the magnitude of genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance among 36 varieties of soybean. Considerable genetic variability was observed for pods per plant, plant height, and grain yield per plant. High heritability and genetic advance were recorded for number of pods per plant and branches per plant. Thus, yield could be considerably improved through intensive selection pressure based on number of pods per plant and branches per plant

Proptosis of eye: an atypical presentation of prostatic malignancy.

Orbital metastasis is a rare occurrence found only in about 3 - 10% of all prostate cancers. A 72 years male presented with proptosis of the left eye associated with pain, blurred vision and frequent headaches for the past 8 months. Past medical history had symptoms of bladder outflow obstruction for 3 years. MRI brain and orbit with contrast was consistent with a large soft tissue mass in the left frontal region. The mass was surgically excised in order to achieve palliation. Histopathology revealed poorly differentiated malignant neoplasm with immunohistochemistry favoring metastatic prostate carcinoma. Postoperative radiotherapy was administered with a palliative intent. CT scan identified an enlarged prostate with a nodular lesion, abdominal lymphadenopathy and soft tissue density lesion in the apical segment of left lung. Serum PSA level was 149 µg/L. Bone scan was also consistent with metastatic disease

Evaluasi Pengelolaan Rumah Susun Sederhana Sewa Di Bakalan Krapyak Kabupaten Kudus Abstrak

Population growth each year has increased while the very limited availability of land is even less to make the price of land to be very expensive , so it is not affordable to the people's purchasing power , especially among the middle class . Land can not be separated from human life , the function of soil is essential for humans , especially for land for housing . People really expect to buy land that will be built a house on the land . The price of land which annually increases make the land can not be bought by people, particularly the underprivileged ( poor ) . Seeing such conditions Kudus Regency Government makes program development modest apartment rental.The purpose of this study is to determine and describe the government's policy in relocating the community to the development of simple Flats Rent ( Rusunawa ) in the village of Bakalan Krapyak , Kaliwungu Kudus and to know The problems that arise in the relocation of the community and how the solution . This research is descriptive analytic research using qualitative approach . Data collection techniques by means of interviews with informants , the researchers also conducted direct observation penelkitian object and document the location of the relevant research is conducted with the actual situation.The results showed that in fact the flats built by the Holy District Government less demand by the public , especially people who occupy around the riverbanks Gelis . Found several weaknesses in relocating public policy program , which has not fulfilled rusunawa adequate facilities and the lack of public awareness about the environment . Construction of rental flats Bakalan Krapyak a logical consequence in the district of Kudus considering many slums and the limited ability of the local economy are low in building a house , then through the construction of towers is expected to overcome the problems hunia wild that the eviction of residents who inhabit the land unlicensed inevitable.Recommendations are given that in the implementation of the relocation program then should the parties involved to be responsive to the problems faced by the people being relocated, the entire process of the implementation of the relocation should be the aspirations of the displaced , and involving the community of preparation through the mechanism of a residential dwelling that is new , the realization of repair or Extra facilities Bakalan Rusunawa Krapyak that it is less, to be more comfortable for the occupants rusunawa and Kudus regency government must be firm in enforcing existing regulations , not to place among the violations of regulations proficiency level . Therefore there must be communication and coordination between levels of government involved in the enforcement of existing regulation