Real-time friction torque estimation on a diesel engine using the crankshaft speed fluctuation

Under the pressure of stricter regulations on pollutant emissions and the desire of users for lower fuel consumption and more comfortable driving, engine control based on torque has been developed. To provide an accurate estimate of effective torque, friction losses must be modeled. The details of a model that predicts the total instantaneous friction torque for compression ignition engines are described. The model is based on a combination of the dynamic model of the crankshaft and the thermodynamic model. The total instantaneous friction torque is determined using the instantaneous measurements or numerical predictions of the gas pressure in the combustion chamber, the rotational speed of the crankshaft and the load torque. The experimental data and the numerical simulation results were compared. The comparison between the different variables shows a good agreement between the simulation and the experimental results

P2AT: Pyramid Pooling Axial Transformer for Real-time Semantic Segmentation

Recently, Transformer-based models have achieved promising results in various vision tasks, due to their ability to model long-range dependencies. However, transformers are computationally expensive, which limits their applications in real-time tasks such as autonomous driving. In addition, an efficient local and global feature selection and fusion are vital for accurate dense prediction, especially driving scene understanding tasks. In this paper, we propose a real-time semantic segmentation architecture named Pyramid Pooling Axial Transformer (P2AT). The proposed P2AT takes a coarse feature from the CNN encoder to produce scale-aware contextual features, which are then combined with the multi-level feature aggregation scheme to produce enhanced contextual features. Specifically, we introduce a pyramid pooling axial transformer to capture intricate spatial and channel dependencies, leading to improved performance on semantic segmentation. Then, we design a Bidirectional Fusion module (BiF) to combine semantic information at different levels. Meanwhile, a Global Context Enhancer is introduced to compensate for the inadequacy of concatenating different semantic levels. Finally, a decoder block is proposed to help maintain a larger receptive field. We evaluate P2AT variants on three challenging scene-understanding datasets. In particular, our P2AT variants achieve state-of-art results on the Camvid dataset 80.5%, 81.0%, 81.1% for P2AT-S, P2ATM, and P2AT-L, respectively. Furthermore, our experiment on Cityscapes and Pascal VOC 2012 have demonstrated the efficiency of the proposed architecture, with results showing that P2AT-M, achieves 78.7% on Cityscapes. The source code will be available a

Bellis prostrata Pomel (Asteraceae), a new species for Morocco

Investigations conducted in temporary wetlands of the coastal Meseta of W Morocco (Benslimane region) lead to the discovery of Bellis prostrata in a small endoreic temporary pool (ca. 1 ha) of the quartzitic-limestone plateau of Benslimane

Uptake of Antenatal Care Among Pregnant Women in Plateau State Nigeria

Background-Antenatal care offers pregnant women promotive, preventive and curative services. Despite this, some pregnant women still donrsquot access ANC at all while others donrsquot have access to ANC by skilled health care professionals. This increases the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality. This study therefore aims to determine the predictors of ANC attendance among in Plateau State. Methodology-A community based cross sectional study,400 study participants across six communities in the three senatorial zones in Plateau State were selected. Focused Group Discussion was conducted among study participants. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23. Results- 90.8% of respondents booked their last pregnancy out of which 55.8% had more than four ANC visits. Only 52.9% of the women had ANC by skilled health care providers. 69.7% of women who did not book their pregnancy delivered at home. Educational status, marital status and marital setting were predictors of ANC attendance among the study population. Women who had formal education were 1.7 times more likely to attend ANC compared to those with non-formal or no education at all. (P-value lt0.001 CI 1.267-2.321). Also, women in monogamous settings were more likely to attend ANC compared to those in polygamous setting (P-value 0.015 CI 0.162-0.822). Conclusion-Many of the respondents did not have the required number of ANC visits.nbsp More targeted interventions should be implemented in order to ensure that women have access to skilled care during pregnancy as this will reduce the risk of complications in pregnancy and delivery

New material of polyacrylic acid-modified graphene oxide composite for phenol remediation from synthetic and real wastewater

In this study, new material of polyacrylic acid-modified graphene oxide (GO-PAA) composite for phenol remediation from synthetic and real wastewater was investigated. The graphene oxide (GO) and GO-PAA were physically and chemically characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET). The effects of various experimental factors including pH, temperature, and initial phenol concentration were examined. Results showed that the optimum adsorption occurred at pH 2 and temperature 25 °C. The adsorption capacity of GO-PAA was double of the case of un-modified GO, indicating the importance of surface modification and the introduction of (C=O) groups in the enhancement of the adsorption process. Moreover, the Langmuir adsorption isotherm was found to be the most suitable isotherm to describe the adsorption process of phenol, and thermodynamics studies confirmed the spontaneity and the exothermic nature of the adsorption process. GO-PAA was capable of removing 75% and 18% of phenol from synthetic and real wastewater, respectively under optimum conditions of pH 2 and 25 °C. These results indicate that adsorption of phenolic compounds using GO-PAA could be an effective and simple method to remediate pollution, especially in acidic conditions.This report was made possible by Qatar University graduate assistantship program. The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the author(s)

Pattern of cesarean deliveries among women in an urban and rural district in Egypt

Aim: to compare patterns of delivery at an urban and a rural district in Egypt over 3 years. Methods: This retrospective study included 500 women and 50 obstetricians from each district from January, 2013 till December, 2015. Women answered a questionnaire about their deliveries. Obstetricians answered a questionnaire about their practiceof CS. Results: CS rate in the rural district was 57.2% compared to 54.8% in the urban district in 2013. In 2014 and 2015, CS rates increased to 65.3% and 69%, respectively in the rural district compared to 56% and 57.7%, respectively in the urban district. 66% of obstetricians in the rural district performed CS for more than 50% of their patients compared to 76% of obstetricians in the urban district. 52% and 4% of obstetricians in the rural and urban districts, respectively, performed CS upon maternal request. 70.3% of women in the rural district who delivered by CS preferred to deliver vaginally. 51.4% of urban women who delivered by CS preferred to deliver vaginally. Level of education was the only factor showing statistical significance. Conclusion: CS rates increased over time with higher rates in the rural area. Level of women's education was the only factor affecting delivery choice. Keywords: Cesarean sections; CS rate; urban area; rural area; Egypt; obstetricians

IN SILICO PHARMACOKINETICS AND MOLECULAR DOCKING OF THREE LEADS ISOLATED FROM TARCONANTHUS CAMPHORATUS L.

Objective: To investigate the pharmacokinetic and toxicity profiles and spectrum of biological activities of three phytochemicals isolated from Tarconanthus camphoratus L. Methods: Several integrated web based in silico pharmacokinetic tools were used to estimate the druggability of Hispidulin, Nepetin and Parthenolide. Afterward, the structural based virtual screening for the three compounds' potential targets was performed using PharmMapper online server. The molecular docking was conducted using Auto-Dock 4.0 software to study the binding interactions of these compounds with the targets predicted by PharmMapper server. Results: The permeability properties for all compounds were found within the limit range stated for Lipinski׳s rule of five. Only Parthenolide proved to be able to penetrate through blood brain barrier. Isopentenyl-diphosphate delta-isomerase (IPPI), uridine-cytidine kinase-2 (UCK-2) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-1 (MEK-1) were proposed as potential targets for Hispidulin, Nepetin and Parthenolide, respectively. Nepetin and Parthenolide were predicted to have anticancer activities. The activity of Nepetin appeared to be mediated through UCK-2 inhibition. On the other hand, inhibition of MEK-1 and enhancement of TP53 expression were predicted as the anticancer mechanisms of Parthenolide. The three compounds showed interesting interactions and satisfactory binding energies when docked into their relevant targets. Conclusion: The ADMET profiles and biological activity spectra of Hispidulin, Nepetin and Parthenolide have been addressed. These compounds are proposed to have activities against a variety of human aliments such as tumors, muscular dystrophy, and diabetic cataracts.Keywords: Tarconanthus camphoratus L., Hispidulin, Nepetin, Parthenolide, In silico pharmacokinetic, Molecular docking, PharmMapper server, and Auto-Dock 4.0 softwareÂ

What is next in African neuroscience?

Working in Africa provides neuroscientists with opportunities that are not available in other continents. Populations in this region exhibit the greatest genetic diversity; they live in ecosystems with diverse flora and fauna; and they face unique stresses to brain health, including child brain health and development, due to high levels of traumatic brain injury and diseases endemic to the region. However, the neuroscience community in Africa has yet to reach its full potential. In this article we report the outcomes from a series of meetings at which the African neuroscience community came together to identify barriers and opportunities, and to discuss ways forward. This exercise resulted in the identification of six domains of distinction in African neuroscience: the diverse DNA of African populations; diverse flora, fauna and ecosystems for comparative research; child brain health and development; the impact of climate change on mental and neurological health; access to clinical populations with important conditions less prevalent in the global North; and resourcefulness in the reuse and adaption of existing technologies and resources to answer new questions. The article also outlines plans to advance the field of neuroscience in Africa in order to unlock the potential of African neuroscientists to address regional and global mental health and neurological problems

Alcohol Use and its Associated Factors among Residents of an Urban Community in Plateau State Nigeria

Background:According to the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol use contributes about 2.3 million deaths globally and accounts for 3.8% of global mortality. Nigeria ranks as the leading country in alcohol consumption in Africa. In view of this, this study was conducted to assess the level of alcohol use and its associated factors among residents of an urban community in Plateau state, Nigeria.Methodology: A cross sectional study carried outnbsp among 212 adult residents of AngwanRukuba community of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau Statenbsp using quantitative method of data collection.nbsp Epi info statistical software version 7.0 was used for data analysis with adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence intervalused in the study while a p-value of le 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Result: The average age of the respondents in this study was 28.2plusmn10.4 years with majority being 30 years and below. More of the respondents 142(60.8%) were current consumers of alcoholic drinks with harmful level of alcohol intake found to be 32.0%.Sex, quantity of drinks adjudged as normal in one sitting and age of onset of alcohol use were found to significantly predict harmful intake of alcohol containing drinks in the study.Conclusion: A relatively high level of alcohol use was found in this study with a corresponding level of harmful use. Sex, age of onset of alcohol use and quantity of drinks adjudged as normal in a sitting were significant contributors to harmful alcohol use.nbs

Phytochemical Screening, Gas Chromatography-mass Spectrometry Analysis, and Antidiabetic Effects of Corchorus olitorius Leaves in Rats

BACKGROUND: Therapies for diabetes mellitus are still meeting failure in most cases, especially in the developed stages of the disease due to incredible associating complications. Hence, there is a need for continuous development of curative therapies for that stubborn disease. AIM: We aimed to investigate the antidiabetic effects of one of the most popular plants cultivated in Egypt, C. olitorius. METHODS: Phytochemical screening of total alcoholic extract of Corchorus olitorius leaves and its aqueous and chloroform fractions revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, tannins, coumarins, and alkaloids. RESULTS: The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed the presence of 12 and nine chemical compounds in aqueous and chloroform extracts, respectively. C. olitorius decreased serum glucose level and α-amylase activity. This effect was more pronounced in the total alcoholic extract and its chloroform fraction than the aqueous one. The extracts also adjusted the lipid profile, reduced liver injury parameters, and caused remarkable improvement and increase number, size, and density of functioning β-cells. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest the antihyperglycemic and antioxidant effects of C. olitorius besides its beneficial effect on diabetic complications such as hyperlipidemia and liver injury. The presence of some phytochemicals such as theophylline, trans-2, 3-dimethoxycinnamic acid, 7-hydroxy-4-methyl coumarin, apigenin 7-glucoside, and glycitein may contribute to such pharmacological effects