A Two-Stage Fuzzy Logic Model for Urban Traffic Signal Control and Management.

Different traffic signal control systems are applied nowadays. They vary in complexity and approach but mostly aimed at improving the intersection level of service and the efficiency of the traffic network. Fuzzy Logic Models (FLM) have been widely regarded as quite appealing for real-time applications, in addition to their explicit considerations for stochasticities or uncertainties of traffic measures. The majority of the FLMs for signal control were developed to handle isolated intersections in specific. Very few of these FLM systems explicitly account for neighbor intersections’ traffic impact on the decisions to be made at the underlying intersections. The aim of this research is to develop a fuzzy logic control system for real time signal control that accounts for various traffic conditions. The system is envisaged to demonstrate signal control settings close to those developed by optimization methodologies. The literature review highlighted the structure of the existing FLMs for traffic signal control, input and output parameters and testing. The simulation environment (SYNCHRO) was utilized to model and design the traffic signals of an isolated intersection using 289 different traffic configurations and traffic volumes. The cases were carefully selected to cover the domain of different levels of service along the competing approaches. A FLM was developed and calibrated to emulate the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) method for optimal signal control. The general outcome was that the proposed FLM is effective in replicating “optimization” signal control procedures (SYNCHRO). The devised FLM was thoroughly evaluated against the benchmark solutions of optimal cycle times, green times of the various phases. Further analysis was carried out to validate the devised FLM and to assess its effectiveness if deployed in conditions other than those conditions used model calibration. The validation results indicated that the FLM is mostly effective for cases of medium or high downstream congestion and medium to high traffic flow

PELAKSANAAN PENGANGKATAN ANAK DAN DAMPAKNYA DALAM HARTA WARISAN PADA MASYARAKAT ADAT BALI PERANTAUAN DI DKI JAKARTA

Pelaksanaan Pengangkatan Anak pada Masyarakat Adat Bali Perantauan di DKI Jakarta memiliki keunikan karena Hukum Adat Bali menganut sistem kekeluargaan patrilineal dan hukum adatnya tidak dapat dipisahkan dari ajaran-ajaran pada agama mayoritas yaitu Agama Hindu sedangkan DKI Jakarta menganut sistem kekerabatan parental serta agama mayoritas nya adalah Agama Islam. Hal tersebut akan memunculkan pertanyaan bagaimana pelaksanaan pengangkatan anaknya bila di DKI Jakarta. Pengangkatan anak akan menimbulkan akibat hukum mengenai bagaimana kedudukan anak yang diangkat tersebut dalam harta warisan, dimana menurut Hukum Adat Bali yang menjadi ahli waris adalah anak laki-laki. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui bagaimana pelaksanaan pengangkatan anak pada Masyarakat Adat Bali Perantauan di DKI Jakarta serta kedudukan anak yang diangkat tersebut pada harta warisan. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode pendekatan yuridis empiris, yaitu pendekatan yang dimaksudkan untuk memberi penjelasan atas permasalahan yang diteliti berdasarkan hasil penelitian yang diperoleh, baik dari aspek hukumnya maupun realitas yang terjadi dalam masyarakat. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian dan pembahasan dapat disimpulkan sebagai berikut: pertama, pelaksanaan pengangkatan anak pada Masyarakat Adat Bali perantauan di DKI Jakarta tidak memiliki perbedaan dengan pelaksanaan pengangkatan anak di Bali pada umumnya. Masyarakat Adat Bali perantauan tetap akan terikat dengan Adat-nya, selama tidak keluar dari Agama Hindu. Lazimnya anak yang diangkat adalah anak laki-laki. Pengangkatan anak wajib dilakukan dengan Upacara Peperasan sehingga anak angkat itu sah di mata hukum adat. Kedua, pada Masyarakat Adat Bali perantauan di DKI Jakarta Anak angkat memiliki kedudukan setara dengan anak kandung sehingga anak angkat laki-laki berhak mewaris penuh di keluarga angkatnya dan tidak berhak mewaris di keluarga asalnya

Effect of the clinical application of the diode laser (810 nm) in the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity

BACKGROUND: Dentine hypersensitivity is a common clinical finding with a wide variation in prevalence values. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of diode laser (810 nm) in the treatment of cervical dentine hypersensitivity. METHODS: Five patients, with at least two sensitive teeth were selected. A total of 14 teeth were included in this trial. By using Visual Analogous Scale the pain of dentine hyper sensitivity was detected and the pre- treatment readings were recorded. The Diode laser (810 nm), was irradiated on (non contact) mode at the cervical region. The samples were divided into two groups according to exposure duration: For Group 1 exposure duration was 30 seconds and for group 2 exposure duration was one minute. The efficiency of the treatment was assessed at two examination period :15 minutes after first application and 7 days after first application, the degree of sensitivity was determined by using Visual Analogous Scale. RESULTS: The results show significant reduction of pain after 15 minutes of laser application in the group with 30 seconds exposure duration (P = .001), and the pain completely fade away after one week in the same group, while in the group with 1 minute exposure duration the pain completely disappeared (visual analogous scale = (0)) after 15 minutes and one week of laser application (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The study concluded that application of diode laser (810 nm) was effective for the reduction of dentine hypersensitivity

Reporting on the Status of Nutrition Programs of Higher Education in the Syrian Arab Republic: A Current Snapshot

Background: The Syrian Arab Republic (SAR) is experiencing high rates of malnutrition. While many adults experience overweight and obesity, as a direct result of the continuing conflict, SAR is also noted as one of the most food-insecure regions in the Arab world. To combat the health impacts and outcomes related to diet and dietary behaviors, trained nutrition professionals are needed. We aimed to examine current nutrition-affiliated programs offered in post-secondary institutions in the SAR. Methods: The search was conducted between Jan and Feb 2021. An electronic review of universities and colleges’ websites, department webpages, and academic programs’ homepages and resources of all the private and public universities in SAR was conducted to find programs related to nutrition, nutrition sciences, and dietetics. Results: Only 13%, or 4 out of 30 SAR colleges and universities had bachelor’s programs in nutrition or nutrition science, and none had nutrition programs at the graduate or terminal degree levels. Conclusion: A pathway for integration of graduates from nutrition sciences into the healthcare and public health workforce should be defined and an understanding of the value of those with a degree in nutrition should be cultivated in clinical and community care settings. Partnering with existing or creating independent organizations charged with defining the scope of practice and ensuring educational quality and competence of graduating students, as well as readiness to practice as part of a healthcare team or in a public health nutrition role will be integral to moving the nutrition profession forward in the SAR

Periodontal status of rheumatoid arthritis patients in khartoum state

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Few studies have investigated the periodontal condition among Rheumatoid arthritis in Sudan. The present study described the periodontal condition among Sudanese patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and to compare them with those of non-rheumatic subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A group of eighty rheumatoid arthritis patients was selected from Patient's Rheumatoid Clinics in Khartoum State during the period of January to May 2010. A control group of eighty patients with the same age and gender was selected for the study. Both Rheumatoid arthritis patients and the control group were examined for their plaque index, gingival index, and clinical attachment loss.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results revealed that there were no significant differences in plaque and gingival index among study and control groups, with mean plaque index of (1.25 ± 0.4) for patients and (1.17 ± 0.28) for the control group (p-value is 0.3597). The mean gingival index was (1.2 ± 0.24) for the patients and (1.2 ± 0.33) for the control (p = is 0.3049). The results showed statistically significant differences in clinical attachment loss between study and control groups, with mean clinical attachment loss of (1.03 ± 0.95) for the study group and (0.56 ± 0.63) for the control group (p = 0.0002). The study revealed that no association exists between the type of drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (NSAIDs & DMARDs) and the periodontal parameters (plaque index, gingival index, and clinical attachment loss).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A significant relationship between periodontal disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis does exist, but no difference between plaque and gingival index has been detected among study and control groups.</p

Prevalence and Population Attributable Risk for Chronic Airflow Obstruction in a Large Multinational Study

Rationale: The Global Burden of Disease programme identified smoking, and ambient and household air pollution as the main drivers of death and disability from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).Objective: To estimate the attributable risk of chronic airflow obstruction (CAO), a quantifiable characteristic of COPD, due to several risk factors.Methods: The Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study is a cross-sectional study of adults, aged≥40, in a globally distributed sample of 41 urban and rural sites. Based on data from 28,459 participants, we estimated the prevalence of CAO, defined as a post-bronchodilator one-second forced expiratory volume to forced vital capacity ratio Measurements and Main Results: Mean prevalence of CAO was 11.2% in men and 8.6% in women. Mean PAR for smoking was 5.1% in men and 2.2% in women. The next most influential risk factors were poor education levels, working in a dusty job for ≥10 years, low body mass index (BMI), and a history of tuberculosis. The risk of CAO attributable to the different risk factors varied across sites.Conclusions: While smoking remains the most important risk factor for CAO, in some areas poor education, low BMI and passive smoking are of greater importance. Dusty occupations and tuberculosis are important risk factors at some sites