Road traffic noise and its prediction by computer simulation with particular reference to signalised intersections

Interrupted or congested traffic flow situations increase the number of possibly relevant variables over the free flow case and it becomes virtually impossible to obtain enough uncorrelated measured data to establish the regression coefficients for all these variables. [Continues.

Neoj4 and SARMIX Model for Optimizing Product Placement and Predicting the Shortest Shopping Path

Product placement of top-selling items in highly visible aisles inside supermarkets plays a crucial role in enhancing customer shopping experience. Moreover, it is important for retailers to assure that their customers can effortlessly navigate the store and locate the items they are searching for in a timely manner. The research proposes a novel and effective approach that combines two methods; the SARIMAX model for forecasting sales of each product based on historical data; by using the predicted result, placing the most demanding item in highly visible aisles. And the use of Graph Database Management Systems (GDBMS) such as Neo4j to find the shortest path for consumers to navigate throughout the store to finish the shopping as per their shopping list. By leveraging the power of data analytics and machine learning, retailers can make data-driven decisions that result in improved sales andcustomer satisfaction. Retailers investing in these technologies and strategies will likely see a significant increase in customer satisfaction and sales

Molecular detection, quantification, and isolation of Streptococcus gallolyticus bacteria colonizing colorectal tumors: inflammation-driven potential of carcinogenesis via IL-1, COX-2, and IL-8

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Colorectal cancer (CRC) has long been associated with bacteremia and/or endocarditis by <it>Streptococcus gallolyticus </it>member bacteria (SGMB) but the direct colonization of SGMB along with its molecular carcinogenic role, if any, has not been investigated. We assessed the colonization of SGMB in CRC patients with history of bacteremia (CRC-w/bac) and without history of bacteremia (CRC-wo/bac) by isolating SGMB from feces, mucosal surfaces of colorectum, and colorectal tissues and detecting SGMB DNA, via PCR and in situ hybridization (ISH) assays targeting <it>SodA </it>gene in colorectal tissues. Moreover, mRNA of IL1, IL-8, COX-2, IFN-γ, c-Myc, and Bcl-2 in colorectal tissues of studied groups was assessed via ISH and RT-PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>SGMB were found to be remarkably isolated in tumorous (TU) and non-tumorous (NTU) tissues of CRC-w/bac, 20.5% and 17.3%, and CRC-wo/bac, 12.8% and 11.5%, respectively while only 2% of control tissues revealed SGMB (P < 0.05); such contrast was not found in mucosal and fecal isolation of SGMB. The positive detection of SGMB DNA in TU and NTU of CRC-w/bac and CRC-wo/bac via PCR, 48.7%, 35.9%, 32.7%, and 23%, respectively, and ISH, 46.1%, 30.7%, 28.8%, and 17.3%, respectively, was higher than in control tissues, 4 and 2%, respectively (P < 0.05). SGMB count measured via quantitative PCR of SGMB DNA in terms of copy number (CN), in TU and NTU of CRC-w/bac and CRC-wo/bac, 2.96-4.72, 1.29-2.81, 2.16-2.92, and 0.67-2.07 log₁₀CN/g respectively, showed higher colonization in TU than in NTU and in CRC-w/bac than in CRC-wo/bac (P < 0.05). The PCR-based mRNA ratio and ISH-based percentage of positively stained cells of IL-1, 1.77 and 70.3%, COX-2, 1.63 and 44.8%, and IL-8, 1.73 and 70.3%, respectively, rather than IFN-γ, c-Myc, and Bcl-2, were higher in SGMB positive patients than in control or SGMB negative patients (P < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The current study indicated that colorectal cancer is remarkably associated with SGMB; moreover, molecular detection of SGMB in CRC was superior to link SGMB with CRC tumors highlighting a possible direct and active role of SGMB in CRC development through most probably inflammation-based sequel of tumor development or propagation via, but not limited to, IL-1, COX-2, and IL-8.</p

The association of Streptococcus bovis/gallolyticus with colorectal tumors: The nature and the underlying mechanisms of its etiological role

Streptococcus bovis (S. bovis) bacteria are associated with colorectal cancer and adenoma. S. bovis is currently named S. gallolyticus. 25 to 80% of patients with S. bovis/gallolyticus bacteremia have concomitant colorectal tumors. Colonic neoplasia may arise years after the presentation of bacteremia or infectious endocarditis of S. bovis/gallolyticus. The presence of S. bovis/gallolyticus bacteremia and/or endocarditis is also related to the presence of villous or tubular-villous adenomas in the large intestine. In addition, serological relationship of S. gallolyticus with colorectal tumors and direct colonization of S. gallolyticus in tissues of colorectal tumors were found. However, this association is still under controversy and has long been underestimated. Moreover, the etiological versus non-etiological nature of this associationis not settled yet. Therefore, by covering the most of up to date studies, this review attempts to clarify the nature and the core of S. bovis/gallolyicus association with colorectal tumors and analyze the possible underlying mechanisms

Trichloroacetic Acid Spray for the Treatment of Foot Ulcers of Foot and Mouth Disease in Cattle

An attempt was made to evaluate the therapeutic effect of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) for ulcers of the hooves of 120 cattle affected with foot and mouth disease (FMD). Each hoof was cleaned and washed with water before using the TCA spray (2%) once daily. Biopsies were taken from the soft tissue lesions before and after10 days of treatment. These tissue specimens were processed routinely for histopathological examination. A marked improvement was seen in the pain inflicted by palpation of the affected hoof. Microscopically, coagulative necrosis of the soft tissue of the hoof was seen. An advanced stage of healing of the hoof ulcers was observed on 10th day post–treatment. It was concluded that 2% solution of TCA was an effective treatment of ulcers of the hooves of cattle affected with FMD

An Effective Knowledge-Based Modeling Approach towards a “Smart-School Care Coordination System” for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

There is a significant need for a computer-aided modeling, effective information analysis and ontology knowledge base models to support both special needs children and care providers. As this research work correlated to the symmetry scope, it proposes an innovative generic smart knowledge-based “School Care Coordination System” (SCCS), which is established on a novel holistic six-layered data management model. The development of the Smart-SCCS adopts a methodology of ontology engineering to transform the given theoretical unstructured special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) code of practice into a comprehensive knowledge representation and reasoning system. The intended purpose is to deliver a system that can coordinate and bring together education, health and social care services into a single application to meet the needs of children and young people (CYP) with SEND. Moreover, it enables coordination, integration and monitoring of education, health and social care activities between different actors (formal, informal and CYP in the education sector) involved in the school care process network to provide personalized care interventions based on a predefined care plan. The developed ontology knowledge-based model has been proven efficient and solved the enormous difficulties faced by schools and local authorities on a daily basis. It enabled the coordination of care and integration of information for CYP from different departments in health, social care and education. The developed model has received significant attention with great feedback from all the schools and the local authorities involved, showing its efficiency and robustness

MIXED CONVECTIVE AND RADIATIVE HEAT TRANSFER IN A HORIZONTAL CONCENTRIC AND ECCENTRIC CYLINDRICAL ANNULI

A numerical investigation has been performed to study the effect of eccentricity on unsteady state, laminar aiding mixed convection in a horizontal concentric and eccentric cylindrical annulus. The outer cylinder was kept at a constant temperature while the inner cylinder was heated with constant heat flux. The study involved numerical solution of transient momentum (Navier-Stokes) and energy equation using finite difference method (FDM), where the body fitted coordinate system (BFC) was used to generate the grid mesh for computational plane. The governing equations were transformed to the vorticity-stream function formula as for momentum equations and to the temperature and stream function for energy equation. A computer program (Fortran 90) was built to calculate the bulk Nusselt number (Nub) after reaching steady state condition for fluid Prandtl number fixed at 0.7 (air) with radius ratio ( =2.6), Rayleigh number (Ra=200), Reynolds number (Re=50) for both concentric and eccentric cylindrical annulus with different eccentricity ratios (ε=0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75) and angular positions (φo=0o , 45o , 90o , 135o , 180o ). The results show a reasonable representation to the relation between Nusselt number and (ε, φo). Generally, Nub decreased with the increase in (ε and φo). Also, results show that the best thermal performance for the inner cylinder was at the angular position (φo=0o ) for eccentricity ratio (ε=0.25), while the maximum reduction in the rate of heat transfer for the inner cylinder was at the angular position (φo=180o) for eccentricity ratio (ε=0.75). Comparison of the result with the previous work shows a good agreement

Novel in-vitro antimicrobial activity of Vigna radiata (L.)R. Wilczek against highly resistant bacterial and fungal pthogens.

The ever rising resistant bacteria and fungi resulted in finding novel antimicrobial sources and agents. Studies confirmed that mung beans have increased phenolic compounds and enhanced defenses during germination. We hypothesized that antimicrobial activities might be found in sprouts of mung beans (MBS), or Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek. The screening method was conducted using disc diffusion assay against 12 gram negative and positive bacteria, including multiple drug resistant (MDR) bacteria and 12 fungi. It was followed by the evaluation of the minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration or the minimum fungicidal concentration. The screening results revealed potential antibacterial and antifungal activities by MBS extract against 11 out of 12 bacteria and 2 out of 10 fungi including remarkable antimicrobial activity against highly infectious MDR bugs such as Methicilline-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MDR Escherichia coli O157:H7, MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, S. aureus, and Salmonella Typhimurium as well as against human fungal pathogens, Trichophyton rubrum and Trichoderma harzianum. The potential antimicrobial activity of MBS reflects effective quality and quantity of polyphenolic compounds present after bean germination. This unprecedented study showed that MBS extract is a potential source for novel antimicrobials that are inexpensive and readily available at a large scale for pharmaceutical companies

Size and Structure Dependence of the Anomalous Bulk Modulus for FCC Metallic Nanoparticles

812-817The purpose of this work is to develop a theoretical model to calculate the bulk moduli of FCC nanoparticles that account for their size and structure. The bulk modulus for spherical nanoparticles has been derived from the cohesive energy which had been calculated by summing up the potential energy function of every pair of atoms of these metallic nanoparticles. The ab initio pair potential energy function has been formed by inverting the cohesive energy function proposed by (Rose et al., 1981), using the Chen-Mobius method. The results show that, as the size decreases, the bulk modulus decreases for spherical nanoparticles, which agrees with previous experimental and theoretical predictions. The results also predicted an &ldquo;amorphous&rdquo; structure for ultra-small nanoparticles and were consistent with previous experimental work

Inhibition of Growth of Highly Resistant Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens by a Natural Product

The continuous escalation of resistant bacteria against a wide range of antibiotics necessitates discovering novel unconventional sources of antibiotics. B. oleracea L (red cabbage) is health-promoting food with proven anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. However, it has not been researched adequately for its antimicrobial activity on potential resistant pathogens. The methanol crude extract of B. oleracea L. was investigated for a possible anti-microbial activity. The screening method was conducted using disc diffusion assay against 22 pathogenic bacteria and fungi. It was followed by evaluation of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Moreover, the antibacterial and the antifungal activities were confirmed using the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), respectively. Remarkable, antibacterial activity was evident particularly against highly infectious microorganisms such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium as well as against human fungal pathogens, Trichophyton rubrum and Aspergillus terreus. Red cabbage is a rich source of phenolic compounds, anthocyanins being the most abundant class, which might explain its potent antimicrobial action. This extract is potentially novel for future antimicrobials, inexpensive, and readily available at a large scale for pharmaceutical companies for further investigation and processing