Congestion; Delay; Origin and Destination; Traffic; Travel Time

This study attempts to make use of traffic behaviour on the aggregate level to estimate congestion on urban arterial and sub-arterial roads of a city exhibiting heterogeneous traffic conditions by breaking the route into independent segments and approximating the origin-destination based traffic flow behaviour of the segments. The expected travel time in making a trip is modelled against sectional traffic characteristics (flow and speed) at origin and destination points of road segments, and roadway and segment traffic characteristics such as diversion routes are also tried in accounting for travel time. Predicted travel time is then used along with free flow time to determine the state of congestion on the segments using a congestion index (CI). A development of this kind may help in understanding traffic and congestion behaviour practically using easily accessible inputs, limited only to the nodes, and help in improving road network planning and management

Optimization Modeling Approach to Facilitate Decision Making Process of Energy Planning on College Campuses

Increasing global environmental problems require a rapid response from universities (Sharp, 2002). Energy consumption of universities is increasing due to, for example, expansion in use of electronics and new building constructions (Levine, 2009; Sharp, 2002). There are increasing numbers of initiatives on university campuses to address climate change. The American College and University President\u27s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) is an effort by a group of colleges and universities that have pledged to eliminate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their campus operations and become carbon neutral by a target date set by each university itself (ACUPCC, 2006). This research presented an optimization approach to help decision makers of universities find an optimal energy plan that meet their environmental goals while minimizing costs associated with those energy plans. The optimization approach takes into consideration annual energy demand, budget constraints, and environmental constraints. This study analyzed the usefulness of a long-term planning approach. The results showed that a single long-term energy plan was better than integrated multiple short-term energy plans for a given planning horizon. However, long-term energy plans required higher capital investments. In addition, Monte Carlo simulation is used to analyze uncertainties associated with natural gas, electricity, and carbon prices. The optimization approach developed in this work can be used by university decision makers to make long-term decisions to meet their environmental goals in a cost effective manner

Impact of ITS in estimation of traffic congestion level of an urban corridor

This study attempts to make use of traffic behaviour on the aggregate level to estimate congestion on urban arterial and sub-arterial roads of a city exhibiting heterogeneous traffic conditions by breaking the route into independent segments and approximating the origin-destination based traffic flow behaviour of the segments. The expected travel time in making a trip is modelled against sectional traffic characteristics (flow and speed) at origin and destination points of road segments, and roadway and segment traffic characteristics such as diversion routes are also tried in accounting for travel time. Predicted travel time is then used along with free flow time to determine the state of congestion on the segments using a congestion index (CI). A development of this kind may help in understanding traffic and congestion behaviour practically using easily accessible inputs, limited only to the nodes, and help in improving road network planning and management

Dapsone induced photosensitivity in Indian women: a rare case

Dapsone, a potent antileprotic anti-inflammatory drug is used in treatment and prophylaxis of many dermatological and non dermatological conditions. Cutaneous adverse reactions to dapsone are uncommon ranging from mild maculopapular rash to fatal toxic epidermal necrolysis. We report here a case of 40-year-old, housewife treated for leprosy with paucibacillary multi drug therapy who presented with red itchy skin lesions over exposed areas of skin which worsened on exposure to sunlight. The patient was diagnosed as a case of dapsone-induced photosensitive dermatitis which was confirmed by improvement of symptoms on withdrawal of dapsone and recurrence of similar lesions on rechallenge with dapsone in reduced dose. Photosensitivity as adverse drug reaction to dapsone is rare and very few reports are available in the literature.

SKELETAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM: A REVIEW

Drug delivery refers to approaches, formulations, technologies, and systems for transporting a pharmaceutical compound in the body as needed to safely achieve its desired therapeutic effect. Skeletal drug delivery systems (SDDS) are used to deliver the drug directly to skeletal tissue through various conventional and novel approaches, thereby improving the therapeutic effectiveness of drugs in bone diseases. It may involve scientific site-targeting within the body, or it might involve facilitating systemic pharmacokinetics; in any case, it is typically concerned with both quantity and duration of drug presence.Ranging from used of poultice and now with the advent of self setting cements, nanoparticles, liposomes etc for targeting the drug to the poorly perfused body organs, the development of delivery systems to bones/ skeletal system have come a long way. The present work reviews the delivery systems that are prevalent and is dedicated towards a rationale selection of the drugs and dosage forms for skeletal diseases

Role of mitochondria in progression of cancer: a semi-quantitative study

Mitochondria have been an area of scientific study for more than 100 years. It was in early 20th century that Otto Warburg first described differences in the mitochondria of tumors v/s normal cells. It was observed that tumor cells have increased rate of aerobic glycolysis compared with normal cells. The study was carried out in patients diagnosed as premalignant and malignant conditions which had three objectives that is to demonstrate the presence or absence of mitochondria in cytological smears, in order to perform a semi-quantitative analysis on the number of mitochondria and to identify the difference in distribution mitochondria if any. The study was carried out in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology of S.P.D.C., Sawangi, Wardha with consent from patients and approval from the institutional ethical committee. 20 patients each diagnosed clinically and histo-pathologically with OSCC and Premalignant conditions or lesions respectively were selected for the purpose of the study. 20 subjects who had come for routine endodontic treatment were taken as control group for the purpose of the study. It was observed that there was even distribution of mitochondria throughout the cytoplasm in smear that had been taken from normal mucosa which appeared sharply defined whereas in premalignant mitochondria were located in the perinuclear zone and 10% in the peripheral zone and in malignant conditions distribution was sparse in the perinuclear area and appeared ill-defined

Antimicrobial and Hepatoprotective Potential of Pterospermum acerifollium leaves Extracts on Swiss albino mice

The objective of present study to investigate the hepatoprotective activity of hydro-alcohollic extract leaves of Pterospermum acerifollium against antitubercular drug induced liver damage in swiss albino mice and also performs antimicrobial activity by disc diffusion assay. Successive extractions was performed with different organic solvents viz; hydroalcohollic by cold maceration. The extract was analysed as antioxidant activity as a content of Total phenolic content, Total flavanoid content, Reducing power assay and DPPH Scavenging assay. Antimicrobial activity of methanolic extract was estimated by Agar well diffusion method. Antitubercular drug induced is used as toxicants in hepatoprotective studies in acute condition was analysed by serum biochemical estimations by AST, ALT, ALP and Total Bilirubin. In-vivo Antioxidant activity was performed by LPO, GSH, SOD and Catalase. During the collection of tissue for biochemical estimation piece of tissue cut and transferred for Histopathological estimation. The levels were measured and it indicated that the extract had significant antioxidant activity however the results obtained were dose dependent the higher the dose (400 mg/kg) the better activity. The extract administered at dose 400 mg/kg showed better activity. The treatment with hydroalcohollic extract of Pterospermum acerifillium reduced the elevated levels of SGOT, SGPT, ALP, TB and also reversed the hepatic damage towards normal which further supports the hepatoprotective activity. Keywords: Succesive extraction, In-vivo, Serum biochemical, Cold maceratio

Evaluation of bacteriological contamination pattern of open fractures of extremities in tertiary care hospital

Background: Open fractures and associated complications like infection are fairly common in developing countries due to rising incidence of high velocity trauma. Primary goal of study is to evaluate the pattern of bacteriological contamination of open fractures of extremities in tertiary care hospital.Methods: A total of 316 patients of all the age group, both the sexes with open fractures of extremities presented within 6 hours were taken in to study. 1st swab taken at the time of primary wound examination followed by 2nd culture swab on just after debridement followed by 3rd culture swab on the day of 1st aseptic dressing followed by 4th culture swab if infection continues or asepsis score is more than 20 till the duration of 4 days. Culture and sensitivity reports were collected for studying pattern of bacterial isolates and their sensitivity.Results: Infection developed in 22.5% of the patients with open fractures of extremities in whom most of bacterial infections were caused by gram-negative organisms (80.3%). Cultures on admission were positive in 41 patients, out of which 11 patients had developed infection in the final cultures but with different flora. While cultures taken at 1st aseptic dressing were found to be positive in 51 cases, out of which 31 had developed infection with prognostic value of 57%.Conclusions: We concluded that cultures obtained at 1st aseptic dressing are far more predictive than pre and post-debridement cultures in management of patients with open fractures of extremities and are important in formulating an antibiotic policy

A comparative study between dynamic hip screw and intramedullary nail fixation in trochanteric fractures

Background: The trochanteric fractures are one of the commonest fractures in elderly population. Incidence of these fractures is increasing due to better life expectancy, growing number of population, industrialization and the road traffic accidents. Variety of implants are available but still there is no consensus for single implant.Methods: A prospective randomized control study was conducted on total 60 patients of intertrochanteric fractures which were randomized into 2 groups of 30 each, treated with dynamic hip screw (DHS) and proximal femoral nail (PFN). All the patients were followed up for a maximum of 6 months. Outcomes were reviewed and compared such as mode of injury, complications, functional and radiological outcomes.Results: There was no significant difference between two groups of patients as regards to mean age and sex. The mode of injury by slip and fall was main cause. The most common type of fracture as per AO-orthopaedic trauma association (OTA) classification was 31-A2 (65%) and 31-A3 (5%) being the least common type. Mean surgical time of DHS group and PFN group was 125.17 minutes and 89.93 minutes respectively. Mean blood loss in DHS group and PFN group was 251.67 ml and 158.67 ml respectively. Mean radiological union time of fracture in DHS group and PFN group was 12.3 and 9.5weeks respectively. Mean Harris hip score at six month in DHS group and PFN group was 80.77 and 85.47 respectively.Conclusions: We conclude that though both the implants can achieve comparable union rates but PFN are better than DHS as of better Harris hip score, shorter surgical time and less intra operative blood loss