Modeling vanet deployment in urban settings

... (VANETs) has prompted greater research into simulation models that better reflect urban VANET deployments. Still, we lack a systematic understanding of the required level of simulation details in modeling various real-world urban constraints. In this work, we developed a series of simulation models that account for street layout, traffic rules, multilane roads, acceleration-deceleration, and RF attenuation due to obstacles. Using real and controlled synthetic maps, we evaluated the sensitivity of the simulation results toward these details. Our results indicate that the delivery ratio and packet delays in VANETs are more sensitive to the clustering effect of vehicles at intersections and their accelerationdeceleration. The VANET performance appears to be only marginally affected by the simulation of multiple lanes and careful synchronization at traffic signals. We also found that the performance in dense VANETs improves significantly when routing decisions are limited to a wireless backbone of mesh nodes, whereas in sparse VANETs, performance improves when vehicles also participate in ad hoc routing. Finally, through measurement and analysis of signal strengths around urban city blocks, we show that the effect of signal attenuation due to physical obstacles can potentially be parameterized in simulations. Our work provides a starting point for further understanding and development of more accurate VANET simulation models

PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CO-CRYSTALS OF DIACEREIN

Diacerein, anti-inflammatory drug used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Being a BCS class II drug, it has poor solubility, dissolution rate and other physicochemical properties. Thus the aim of present study was to prepare co-crystals of diacerein to improve solubility, dissolution rate. The diacerein co-crystals were prepared using urea and tartaric acid as conformer by Solvent drop grinding method. The diacerein co-crystals were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FT-IR spectroscopy (FT-IR), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The co-crystals were evaluated for solubility, dissolution rate and other physicochemical properties and compared with commercial diacern sample. The co-crystals exhibit the difference in the size and shape of crystals. The FT-IR spectra of diacerein co-crystals showed slightly different in the characteristic peaks compared to commercial diacerein sample. DSC data indicate the decrease in the melting endotherm of co-crystals compare to diacerein. The co-crystals with urea showed increase and intense peak and co-crystals with tartaric acid showed decreased number of peaks compared to commercial diacerein. The co-crystals of diacerein formulated in to the Tablet and evaluated for tablet properties. The tablet formulation showed improved tablet characteristics as well as dissolution rate compared to commercial diacerein

Carotid Artery Stenting and Its Impact on Cognitive Function: A Prospective Observational Study

Purpose Carotid artery stenting (CAS) has evolved as a first-line therapeutic option for carotid revascularization in indicated patients for stroke prevention, but there is still a lack of data on its effect on cognitive function (CF), especially among Indian patients. To determine the effect of CAS on CF and to study the immediate and delayed complications of CAS in Indian patients. Materials and Methods This was a prospective, observational, single-center study. CF was assessed using Addenbrooke’s cognitive examination version III (ACE) before and 3 months after stenting. The demographic and clinical parameters were also assessed. A follow-up evaluation after 3 months was done to compare CF and to observe the occurrence of any complications. Results Out of 31 patients, 3 were lost to follow up. There were no immediate or delayed procedure-related complications. There was a statistically significant improvement in overall ACE score and memory before and after stenting. On subgroup analysis of those with and without strokes, there was a significant improvement in visuospatial function and mean ACE score. Those with left CAS had significant improvement in memory, visuospatial, language, and ACE scores than right CAS. Conclusion CAS was associated with significant improvement in CF in patients

Congenital myasthenic syndrome with mild intellectual disability caused by a recurrent SLC25A1 variant

Abstract: Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders caused by mutations which lead to impaired neuromuscular transmission. SLC25A1 encodes a mitochondrial citrate carrier, associated mainly with the severe neurometabolic disease combined D-2- and L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (D/L-2-HGA). We previously reported a single family with a homozygous missense variant in SLC25A1 with a phenotype restricted to relatively mild CMS with intellectual disability, but to date no additional cases of this CMS subtype had been reported. Here, we performed whole exome sequencing (WES) in three additional and unrelated families presenting with CMS and mild intellectual disability to identify the underlying causative gene. The WES analysis revealed the presence of a homozygous c.740G>A; p.(Arg247Gln) missense SLC25A1 variant, the same SLC25A1 variant as identified in the original family with this phenotype. Electron microscopy of muscle from two cases revealed enlarged and accumulated mitochondria. Haplotype analysis performed in two unrelated families suggested that this variant is a result of recurrent mutation and not a founder effect. This suggests that p.(Arg247Gln) is associated with a relatively mild CMS phenotype with subtle mitochondrial abnormalities, while other variants in this gene cause more severe neurometabolic disease. In conclusion, the p.(Arg247Gln) SLC25A1 variant should be considered in patients presenting with a presynaptic CMS phenotype, particularly with accompanying intellectual disability

Silver niobate based lead-free ceramics with high energy storage density

Electrical field dependence of permittivity in (1 − x)AN-xBZN ceramics. Arrow directions down, up and down then up are related to domain switching, field induced transition and domain switching plus field induced transitions, respectively.</p

Pseudo-Scimitar syndrome

The pulmonary venous abnormalities are very rare and are difficult to diagnose. We present a case of middle age male who presented with cough and chest pain. Chest radiograph showed abnormal tortuous vessel in right lung. Computed tomographic angiography of chest demonstrated meandering anomalous right superior pulmonary vein

Omental infarction: An unusual cause of right iliac fossa pain in children

Omental infarction is an uncommon cause of acute abdomen in the pediatric population. We report a case of a 4-year-old male child with right iliac fossa pain. The final diagnosis was made on ultrasound and computed tomography findings. This entity needs to be differentiated from acute conditions like appendicitis, avoiding surgery