The impact of mobility models on the performance of mobile Ad Hoc network routing protocol

A mobility model represents nodes distribution and movement over the network. Several research works have shown that a selection of mobility model can affect the outcome of routing performance simulation in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks. Thus, a routing protocol may only be effective in a particular mobility model or scenario but performs inferiorly in another. As a result, analyses of routing protocol performance are often based on inadequate information leading to inaccurate argument and conclusion. In this paper, three different mobility models have been selected, where each of them is highly distinctive in terms of nodes movement behavior. In addition, a new measurement technique called probability of route connectivity is introduced. The technique is used to quantify the success rate of route established by a routing protocol. Extensive simulation runs are done and results are compared between each mobility model

ANSYS Workbench: Concrete Pavement Model

Falling weight deflectometer (FWD) as well as the cores extracted from the concrete road slab were tested in the early days on plain cement concrete pavements which were laid in the Mumbai city. Before crushing the concrete cores the test of ultra sonic pulse velocity (UPV) was carried out. It was observed from the tests carried out that the deflections were within the limits set up by Indian codes as well as research carried out in other parts of world. Apart from it the concrete pavement model is also necessary to check the stresses and strain. The different components of stress and strain are observed through the graphics of software. The present paper consists of the stress, strain and deformation of the model after vehicular loads

Green Technology- A review

The term Green Building is quite new and unfamiliar to people and the construction industry. In the present paper, the concepts of green building, its advantages to the environment and humans are studied and a building is designed using its concepts. A green building is shown in this article that is environmentally friendly and resource efficient using renewable energies such as wind, solar, and hydro energy. The term environmentally friendly means constructing a building safe for the surrounding such as it emits less harmful gases. Green building will not affect the environment i.e. it reduces air pollution, water pollution and global warming. The study has shown the plantation of various brushes for reducing carbon dioxide in building environment. Also the models of conventional equipments, used for utilizing the renewable energies, like biogas digester, pellet stove, weather vane, and solar cooker are created

ANXIOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF MARINE MACROALGAE SARGASSUM ILICIFOLIUM AND PADINA TETRASTOMATICA IN MICE

Objective: The present study was designed to investigate an anxiolytic effect of chloroform and ethanol extract of Sargassum ilicifolium (SI) and Padina tetrastomatica (PT) in mice.Methods: Acute toxicity study was done as per OECD 423 guidelines. Based on acute toxicity studies, doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg of SI and PT extracts were selected, and the anxiolytic activity was assessed using Elevated plus maze (EPM) and light/dark exploration (L/DE) tests.Results: Diazepam (2 mg/kg), the ethanol extract of SI (400 mg/kg) as well as ethanol extract of PT (600 mg/kg) significantly increased time spent and entries into the open arm in EPM test. In L/DE test Diazepam, chloroform extract (600 mg/kg) and ethanol extract (400 mg/kg) of SI as well as chloroform extract (600 mg/kg) and ethanol extract (600 mg/kg) of PT significantly increased time spent in light box and transition between the boxes.Conclusion: in the present investigation, ethanol extract at 400 and chloroform extract at 600 mg/kg of Sargassum ilicifolium as well as ethanol extract at 400 and 600 mg/kg and chloroform extract at 600 mg/kg of Padina tetrastomatica exhibited an anxiolytic effect in the experimental model of anxiety. However, additional research will be necessary to investigate the mechanism underlying this anxiolytic activity. Keywords: Sargassum ilicifolium, Padina tetrastomatica, Brown algae, Anxiolytic activit

Gene expression profiling of bone cells on smooth and rough titanium surfaces

Titanium (Ti) and Ti alloys are widely used as dental and orthopaedic implants, but the effects of the surface characteristics of these materials on the response of cells and target tissues is not well understood. The present study has therefore examined the effects of a rough Ti (RT) and a smooth Ti (ST) surface on human bone cells in vitro. Scanning electron microscopy showed attachment and spreading of cells on both surfaces. Expression profiling using ATLAS™ gene arrays showed marked differences in gene responses after 3 h of culture. A number of osteoblast genes were identified as "roughness response" genes on the basis of changes in expression on the RT compared with the ST surfaces. The surface roughness of Ti was thus found to have a profound effect on the profile of genes expressed by the bone cells, and suggests that improvements in the biological activity and possibly the clinical efficacy of these materials could be achieved by selective regulation of gene expression mediated by controlled modification of Ti surface

An Analysis of Primary Care Clinician Communication About Risk, Benefits, and Goals Related to Chronic Opioid Therapy

Background. Safe opioid prescribing and effective pain care are particularly important issues in the United States, where decades of widespread opioid prescribing have contributed to high rates of opioid use disorder. Because of the importance of clinician-patient communication in effective pain care and recent initiatives to curb rising opioid overdose deaths, this study sought to understand how clinicians and patients communicate about the risks, benefits, and goals of opioid therapy during primary care visits. Methods. We recruited clinicians and patients from six primary care clinics across three health systems in the Midwest United States. We audio-recorded 30 unique patients currently receiving opioids for chronic noncancer pain from 12 clinicians. We systematically analyzed transcribed, clinic visits to identify emergent themes. Results. Twenty of the 30 patient participants were females. Several patients had multiple pain diagnoses, with the most common diagnoses being osteoarthritis (n = 10), spondylosis (n = 6), and low back pain (n = 5). We identified five themes: 1) communication about individual-level and population-level risks, 2) communication about policies or clinical guidelines related to opioids, 3) communication about the limited effectiveness of opioids for chronic pain conditions, 4) communication about nonopioid therapies for chronic pain, and 5) communication about the goal of the opioid tapering. Conclusions. Clinicians discuss opioid-related risks in varying ways during patient visits, which may differentially affect patient experiences. Our findings may inform the development and use of more standardized approaches to discussing opioids during primary care visits

The Effect of EHR-Integrated Patient Reported Outcomes on Satisfaction with Chronic Pain Care

Objective Given its complexity, chronic noncancer pain presents an opportunity to use health information technology (IT) to improve care experiences. The objective of this study was to assess whether integrating patient-reported outcomes (PRO) data in an electronic health record (EHR) affects providers and patient satisfaction with chronic noncancer pain care. Study Design We conducted a pragmatic cluster randomized trial involving four family medicine clinics. Methods We enrolled primary care providers (PCPs) and their patients with chronic noncancer pain. In the first seven months (education phase), PCPs in intervention practices received education on how to use PROs for pain care. In the second seven months (PRO phase), patients in intervention practices reported pain-related outcomes upon arrival at their visits. PROs were immediately reported to PCPs through the EHR. Control group PCPs provided usual care. We compared intervention and control practices in terms of provider and patient satisfaction with care. Results During the education phase, patients’ mean ratings of their visits did not differ between control and intervention (9.33 vs. 9.08, p=0.20). During the PRO phase, patients’ mean ratings did not differ between control and intervention (9.28 vs 9.01, p=0.20). Similarly, there were no differences between the intervention and control groups in terms of provider satisfaction. Conclusion Delivering EHR-integrated PROs did not consistently improve patient or provider satisfaction. Positively, we found no evidence that the PRO tools negatively affected satisfaction. Future studies and technological innovations are needed to translate point-of-care health IT tools to improvements in patient and provider experiences

Comparative effectiveness of dual-action versus single-action antidepressants for the treatment of depression in people living with HIV/AIDS

Background Depression is the most common psychiatric comorbidity among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Little is known about the comparative effectiveness between different types of antidepressants used to treat depression in this population. We compared the effectiveness of dual-action and single-action antidepressants in PLWHA for achieving remission from depression. Methods We used data from the Centers for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinic Systems to identify 1175 new user dual-action or single-action antidepressant treatment episodes occurring from 2005 to 2014 for PLWHA diagnosed with depression. The primary outcome was remission from depression defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score <5. Mean difference in PHQ-9 depressive symptom severity was a secondary outcome. The main approach was an intent-to-treat (ITT) evaluation complemented with a per protocol (PP) sensitivity analysis. Generalized linear models were fitted to estimate treatment effects. Results In ITT analysis, 32% of the episodes ended in remission for both dual-action and single-action antidepressants. The odds ratio (OR) of remission was 1.02 (95%CI=0.63,1.67). In PP analysis, 40% of dual-action episodes ended in remission compared to 32% in single-action episodes. Dual-action episodes had 1.33 times the odds of remission (95%CI=0.55,3.21), however the result was not statistically significant. Non-significant differences were also observed for depressive symptom severity. Limitations Missing data was common but was addressed with inverse probability weights. Conclusions Results suggest that single-action and dual-action antidepressants are equally effective in PLWHA. Remission was uncommon highlighting the need to identify health service delivery strategies that aid HIV providers in achieving full remission of their patients’ depression

Honesty mediates the relationship between serotonin and reaction to unfairness

How does one deal with unfair behaviors? This subject has long been investigated by various disciplines including philosophy, psychology, economics, and biology. However, our reactions to unfairness differ from one individual to another. Experimental economics studies using the ultimatum game (UG), in which players must decide whether to accept or reject fair or unfair offers, have also shown that there are substantial individual differences in reaction to unfairness. However, little is known about psychological as well as neurobiological mechanisms of this observation. We combined a molecular imaging technique, an economics game, and a personality inventory to elucidate the neurobiological mechanism of heterogeneous reactions to unfairness. Contrary to the common belief that aggressive personalities (impulsivity or hostility) are related to the high rejection rate of unfair offers in UG, we found that individuals with apparently peaceful personalities (straightforwardness and trust) rejected more often and were engaged in personally costly forms of retaliation. Furthermore, individuals with a low level of serotonin transporters in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) are honest and trustful, and thus cannot tolerate unfairness, being candid in expressing their frustrations. In other words, higher central serotonin transmission might allow us to behave adroitly and opportunistically, being good at playing games while pursuing self-interest. We provide unique neurobiological evidence to account for individual differences of reaction to unfairness