Assessment of Reasons for Driver Speeding and Estimation of Penalty Probability

Road safety is a global issue that requires a scientific approach to develop safety research methodologies that lead to sound conclusions. Regarding driver behavior and safety, speed is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents, injuries, and deaths. Speed is, therefore, one of the most studied issues related to road safety. The main objective of this study is to identify the frequency and reasons for a driver speeding in Baghdad city. In addition, drivers have been evaluated in terms of penalty probabilities, penalties imposed, and their type. Finally, this paper also investigated drivers' opinions on the effectiveness of such penalties in changing speed behavior. Eight hundred sixteen drivers were the studied sample in Baghdad city for three years. As a result, it was found that about one-third of the drivers were either driving too fast all the time or sometimes. Among the particular reasons, the most common was the rush, not realizing the speed, limits were too low, or the conditions allowed it. Similarly, the chances of getting caught are considered limited. Additionally, half of the penalized drivers said their speed habits changed due to such penalties. A speeding driver is fully aware that they are violating traffic rules. Approximately 80% of the circumstances for speeding behavior were intended. They are unaware of the dangers of speeding, citing speed limits that are too low and that it is customary when road conditions permit

Study the Effect of Parameters on Tire-Pavement Interaction Noise (TPIN)

The present study was prepared to determine the effect of different parameters on tire-pavement Interaction noise (TPIN). TPIN was calculated utilizing the Onboard Sound Intensity Method (OBSI) using apparatus Lutron 801 sound level meter single probe 1 kHz of one microphone is placed at the right back test tire with a specific distance. A total of 30 sections were selected for the main roads in Baghdad city, with 134 meters for each test section in length. TPIN data was calculated for various parameters such as different pavement types, various test vehicles, different speeds (40, 56, and 72) km/h, various types of tires, different pavement aging, and different mean texture depth (MTD) values Which is measured by a sand patch test. The sound intensity dBA increases when MTD value and vehicle speed increase in both types of pavements. On the other hand, the sound intensity dBA increases when age increases for asphalt pavement type while it decreases in asphalt concrete pavement type. In addition, the sound intensity dBA in the asphalt pavement type is lower than in the asphalt concrete pavement when compared to the condition of the new pavement. The opposite is in the case of old pavement surfaces. As well as, the sound intensity dBA in Bus is greater than in the passenger car, and the silver stone tire is lower than the Dunlop tire in the passenger car. Finally, it is concluded that TPIN may be reduced or increased due to the effect of different parameters

Effects of Filler Types and High RAP Content on the Ability of HMA to Withstand Moisture Damage

Using hot mix asphalt (HMA) and recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) simultaneously has many technological benefits. At all service temperatures, moisture damage is a hazard with these mixes. Thus, moisture's effects on mixtures' effectiveness were studied using experimental techniques, such as the tensile strength ratio (TSR). Four different ratios of RAP for the surface layer (20, 30, 40, and 50%)) were added to the asphalt mixture (HMA) to study as well as find the content Optimal RAP for both layers RAP through Marshall stability and hygroscopic resistance of asphalt mixtures through moisture damage is examined. The ratio (TSR) of the optimal RAP content mixture is compared with the asphalt mixture without RAP for three fillers and for both layers. The findings revealed a slight reduction in tensile strength of the (HMA) that does not contain RAP in contrast to the asphalt control mix containing the reclaimed pavement, where it was found that the percentages were slightly more and still higher than 80%. The results indicate that, in general, "Hot asphalt mixtures" containing RAP can be recommended for areas that experience moisture damage without worrying about environmental and natural resource restrictions

Gastrointestinal nematode infections in German sheep

The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence and variation of natural gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections in lambs according to birth type, gender and breed based on individual faecal egg counts (FEC) from various regions in Germany. A total of 3,924 lambs (3 to 15 months old) with different genetic backgrounds (Merinoland, German Blackhead Mutton, Rhoen, Texel and Merino long-wool) were individually sampled during the grazing period between 2006 and 2008. Furthermore, pooled faecal samples from each of the farms were cultured in order to differentiate the third-stage larvae of the nematode spp. Sixty-three percent of the lambs were infected with GIN. The infections were mostly low to moderate and involved several nematode species. The Trichostrongylus spp. was the predominant species based on the percentage of larvae in faecal cultures. Only 11.4% of the lambs were free of Eimeria oocysts. Tapeworm eggs were encountered in 13.2% of all samples. The prevalence of GIN infections varied significantly (P < 0.001) among farms. A significantly higher FEC (P < 0.05) was observed in multiple-born lambs when compared with singletons. Moreover, male lambs were more susceptible to infection than females (P < 0.001). No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed between breeds regarding FEC. Inter-individual variations were higher than inter-breed differences, which may indicate the possibility of selection within these breeds for parasites resistance as described in earlier studies

ANN multiscale model of anti-HIV Drugs activity vs AIDS prevalence in the US at county level based on information indices of molecular graphs and social networks

[Abstract] This work is aimed at describing the workflow for a methodology that combines chemoinformatics and pharmacoepidemiology methods and at reporting the first predictive model developed with this methodology. The new model is able to predict complex networks of AIDS prevalence in the US counties, taking into consideration the social determinants and activity/structure of anti-HIV drugs in preclinical assays. We trained different Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) using as input information indices of social networks and molecular graphs. We used a Shannon information index based on the Gini coefficient to quantify the effect of income inequality in the social network. We obtained the data on AIDS prevalence and the Gini coefficient from the AIDSVu database of Emory University. We also used the Balaban information indices to quantify changes in the chemical structure of anti-HIV drugs. We obtained the data on anti-HIV drug activity and structure (SMILE codes) from the ChEMBL database. Last, we used Box-Jenkins moving average operators to quantify information about the deviations of drugs with respect to data subsets of reference (targets, organisms, experimental parameters, protocols). The best model found was a Linear Neural Network (LNN) with values of Accuracy, Specificity, and Sensitivity above 0.76 and AUROC > 0.80 in training and external validation series. This model generates a complex network of AIDS prevalence in the US at county level with respect to the preclinical activity of anti-HIV drugs in preclinical assays. To train/validate the model and predict the complex network we needed to analyze 43,249 data points including values of AIDS prevalence in 2,310 counties in the US vs ChEMBL results for 21,582 unique drugs, 9 viral or human protein targets, 4,856 protocols, and 10 possible experimental measures.Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deportes; AGL2011-30563-C03-0

Mechanism of mucosal permeability enhancement of CriticalSorb® (Solutol® HS15) investigated In Vitro in cell cultures.

Purpose CriticalSorb™, with the principal component Solutol® HS15, is a novel mucosal drug delivery system demonstrated to improve the bioavailability of selected biotherapeutics. The intention of this study is to elucidate mechanism(s) responsible for the enhancement of trans-mucosal absorption of biological drugs by Solutol® HS15. Methods Micelle size and CMC of Solutol® HS15 were determined in biologically relevant media. Polarised airway Calu-3 cell layers were used to measure the permeability of a panel of biological drugs, and to assess changes in TEER, tight junction and F-actin morphology. The rate of cell endocytosis was measured in vitro in the presence of Solutol® HS15 using a membrane probe, FM 2–10. Results This work initially confirms surfactant-like behaviour of Solutol® HS15 in aqueous media, while subsequent experiments demonstrate that the effect of Solutol® HS15 on epithelial tight junctions is different from a ‘classical’ tight junction opening agent and illustrate the effect of Solutol® HS15 on the cell membrane (endocytosis rate) and F-actin cytoskeleton. Conclusion Solutol® HS15 is the principle component of CriticalSorb™ that has shown an enhancement in permeability of medium sized biological drugs across epithelia. This study suggests that its mechanism of action arises primarily from effects on the cell membrane and consequent impacts on the cell cytoskeleton in terms of actin organisation and tight junction opening

Quality of life in patients treated with first-line antiretroviral therapy containing nevirapine or efavirenz in Uganda: A prospective non-randomized study

© 2015 Mwesigire et al. Background: The goal of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is to suppress viral replication, reduce morbidity and mortality, and improve quality of life (QoL). For resource-limited settings, the World Health Organization recommends a first-line regimen of two-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors and one non-nucleoside transcriptase inhibitor (nevirapine (NVP) or efavirenz (EFV)). There are few data comparing the QoL impact of NVP versus EFV. This study assessed the change in QoL and factors associated with QoL among HIV patients receiving ART regimens based on EFV or NVP. Methods: We enrolled 640 people with HIV eligible for ART who received regimens including either NVP or EFV. QoL was assessed at baseline, three months and six months using Physical Health Summary (PHS) and Mental Health Summary (MHS) scores and the Global Person Generated Index (GPGI). Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations, with ART regimen as the primary exposure, to identify associations between patient and disease factors and QoL. Results: QoL increased on ART. The mean QoL scores did not differ significantly for regimens based on NVP versus EFV during follow-up for MHS and GPGI regardless of CD4 stratum and for PHS among patients with a CD4 count >250 cells/μL. The PHS-adjusted β coefficients for ART regimens based on EFV versus NVP by CD4 count strata were as follows: -1.61 (95 % CI -2.74, -0.49) for CD4 count 250 cells/μL. The corresponding MHS-adjusted β coefficients were as follows: -0.39 (-1.40, 0.62) for CD4∈250 cells/μL. The GPGI-adjusted odds ratios for EFV versus NVP were 0.51 (0.25, 1.04) for CD4 count ∈250 cells/μL. QoL improved among patients on EFV over the 6-month follow-up period (MHS p

Evolving uses of oral reverse transcriptase inhibitors in the HIV-1 epidemic: From treatment to prevention

The HIV epidemic continues unabated, with no highly effective vaccine and no cure. Each new infection has significant economic, social and human costs and prevention efforts are now as great a priority as global antiretroviral therapy (ART) scale up. Reverse transcriptase inhibitors, the first licensed class of ART, have been at the forefront of treatment and prevention of mother to child transmission over the past two decades. Now, their use in adult prevention is being