Bus Priority on Roads Carrying Heterogeneous Traffic: a Study using Computer Simulation

The desirable goal in passenger transportation is moving more people in fewer vehicles. This goal, in respect of road transport, can be attained by encouraging public transport modes like buses by assigning priority. This paper is concerned with application of micro simulation technique to study the impact of provision of reserved bus lanes on the flow of highly heterogeneous traffic on urban roads. The specific objectives of this paper are (i) to modify and validate a newly developed model of heterogeneous traffic flow using field observed data and (ii) to apply the validated simulation model to study the impact of exclusive bus lanes introduced on urban arterials for a wide range of traffic volume levels. The impact of introduction of an exclusive bus lane is measured in terms of the reduction in speed of other categories of motor vehicles, due to the consequent reduction in road space, over a wide range of traffic volume. The main finding of this paper is, that if an exclusive bus lane is provided under highly heterogeneous traffic conditions,(prevailing in Indian cities), then, the maximum permissible volume to capacity ratio that will ensure a level of service of C for the traffic stream comprising all the motor vehicles, except the buses, is about 0.53

Standardisation and Validation of Cytogenetic Markers to Quantify Radiation Absorbed Dose

The amounts of radiation exposure received by radiation workers are monitored generally by physical dosimeters like thermoluminescence dosimeter (TLD) and film badge. However, in practice the over-exposure recorded by physical dosimeters need to be confirmed with biological dosimeters. In addition to confirming the dose recorded by physical dosimeters, biological dosimeters play an important role in estimating the doses received during accidental exposures. Exposure to high levels of radiation induces certain  biochemical, biophysical, and immunological changes (biomarkers) in a cell. Measurement of these changes are generally precise but cannot be effectively used to assess the dose, as the level of these changes return to normalcy within hours to months after exposure. Thus, among various biological indicators, cytogenetic indicators are considered practical and reliable for dose estimation. The paper highlights the importance and establishment of biodosimetry facility using genetic markers such as the sensitive dicentric chromosomes, rapid micronucleus assay and stable translocations measured using fluorescence in situ hybridisation and GTG banding for retrospective dose estimation. Finally, the development of gH2AX assay, as a potential marker of triage dosimeter, is discussed.Defence Science Journal, 2011, 61(2), pp.125-132, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.61.83

Modelling Modal Shift from Personal Vehicles to Bus on Introduction of Bus Priority Measure

Abstract: This study is concerned with estimation of the probable shift of personal vehicle users to bus due to the increase in its level of service as a result of the provision of exclusive bus lanes on Indian city roads. The quantum of increase in level of service of bus due to introduction of exclusive bus lanes was determined using a recently developed simulation model for heterogeneous traffic flow. The data on the other factors (variables) that might cause modal shift from personal vehicles to bus were collected through home-interview survey using a stated preference approach. Mode-choice models to explain the shift behaviour of the users of motorised two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws, and cars to buses are developed. Modal shift probability curves are also developed to serve as a user friendly tool to analyze the probable modal shift for a wide range of the variables

Overexpression of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS-RA)

10.4172/2329-8790.1000231Journal of Hematology & Thromboembolic Diseases040

Medical imaging: Contribution toward background radiation and human exposure

Annual public exposure from background radiation is about 2.8 mSv which comes from both natural and manmade sources. The medical applications of ionizing radiation contribute around 98% of the manmade sources of background radiation. The annual per caput dose rose from 0.35 to 0.62 mSv by the worldwide usage of radiation diagnostic examinations. Based on the published reports, the diagnostic examinations – computed tomography (CT) scan and cerebral angiography are high (7.4 mSv and 9.3 mSv, respectively) in the average effective dose. In our study, we measured the entrance surface dose at different anatomical locations using thermoluminescence dosimeter in patients who underwent CT examinations and neurointerventional radiology procedures. The measured dose values range between 0.70 and 518.12 mGy for CT and 0.99 and 777.31 mGy for interventional procedures. Thus, X-radiation based procedures delivered a considerable amount of radiation dose to the patients. To minimize the risks of developing any health effects, safety measures should be taken to reduce the dose without compromising the image quality

Natural rubber producing plants: An overview

Currently, Hevea brasiliensis has been only one resource for commercial natural rubber production. Rubber tree, H. brasiliensis (Willd. ex A. Juss.) Muell. Arg., commonly known as the Brazilian rubber tree is native to the Amazon River basin. Attempts to develop alternative sources of natural rubber have been made at various times and no fewer than eight botanical families, 300 genera and 2500 species have been found to produce natural rubber in their latex. Only two species, in addition to the Para rubber tree, are known to produce large amounts of rubber with high molecular weight: a shrub named guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) and the Russian dandelion (Taraxacum koksaghyz). These plants were considered sufficiently promising as alternative rubber sources that several research programs have been conducted on these plants, especially during World War II. Hevea rubber has been an undeniably beneficial commodity for the past 100 years. The superior qualities of the natural elastomers produced by this tree have never been surpassed by any of the synthetic products. Parthenium argentatum (guayule) is an industrial crop, which is the best potential source of latex suitable for use in medical products, gloves etc., which does not cause allergic reactions in patients suffering from Type 1 latex allergy. The dandelion rubber will be tested for use in a variety of applications, but primarily for use in tires. Researchers hope the project will lead to the production of the country's first dandelion rubber commercial facility in the next five years. By 2020, they hope the plant will be producing 60 million pounds of natural rubber. Other alternative rubber producing plants like lettuce (Lactuca serriola) and fig tree (Ficus bengalensis); have not yet been sufficiently studied to establish their usability. The ideal rubber-producing crop would be fast growing plant species that can grow in any type of land across the world. The major objective of this review was to provide the information about cultivation, genetics and breeding aspects of Hevea and also other natural rubber producing species for alternative source of latex production in the near future.Keywords: Alternative rubber sources, biotechnology, breeding, Hevea brasiliensis, Parthenium argentatum, Taraxacum koksaghyz, Ficus bengalensis, Lactuca serriolaAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(12), pp. 1297-131

Pattern of chromosomal aberrations and expression profile of p53ser15 and BAX protein in peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy subjects and cancer patients

Introduction: Chemotherapy is an important treatment option which is used for all cancer types. The basic mechanism of action of chemotherapy is that the drugs cause damage to the cancer cells by breaking down DNA, interfere with replication, or enhance the cell killing. Emerging studies have shown that despite tremendous improvements on the therapeutic options, benefit derived from the therapy is not desirable. It is because, interindividual variations among the patient′s response to therapy as well as complex signaling molecules and mechanism involved, determining the final outcome of the therapy. Therapeutic efficacy can be improved by predicting a patient response to that agent, adopting a suitable marker. Materials and Methods: This study involves analysis of the frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and micronucleus, expression profile of p53 ser15 and BAX in healthy subjects and cancer patients, to identify a novel marker to predict their response to chemotherapy agents. For this, peripheral blood sample (4 ml) from cancer patients (solid tumors) was obtained before and after chemotherapy (n = 20). The change in those marker in cancer patients were compared with age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (n = 20). Results: The present study results indicated substantial increase in all four biomarkers for postchemotherapy compared to that obtained before therapy; however, the increase was not significant (P > 0.05), whereas a significant increase (P < 0.05) was observed in all markers from cancer patients compared to that of healthy volunteers relate the genetic instability to the disease status. Furthermore, on comparison, the levels of all those changes are increased in samples obtained posttherapy, despite the magnitude of BAX expression is considerably higher when compared to other markers. Conclusion: Therefore, the study results implied that BAX can be used as a better marker to predict the patient response to chemotherapy