Automatic Lighting Mechanism on Highways during Midnight

This paper presents the key points in implementing automatic lighting mechanism on highway roads with the help of moving object detection in urban cities during midnight. The objective of the object detection system will be to detect objects confined in a particular area. The detection system will thus require important information like speed of moving objects, size of objects and number of vehicles on the road. The lighting system is responsible for switching off the lights in a particular area where the object detection monitoring system evaluates to a minimum threshold value. The lighting system will be active 350m to direction of the object moving in a particular direction

Research priorities to improve the health of children and adults with dysphagia: a National Institute of Health Research and Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists research priority setting partnership

Objective To conduct the first UK-wide research priority setting project informing researchers and funders of critical knowledge gaps requiring investigation to improve the health and well-being of patients with eating, drinking and swallowing disorders (dysphagia) and their carers. Design A priority setting partnership between the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists using a modified nominal group technique. A steering group and NIHR representatives oversaw four project phases: (1) survey gathering research suggestions, (2) verification and aggregation of suggestions with systematic review research recommendations, (3) multistakeholder workshop to develop research questions, (4) interim priority setting via an online ranking survey and (5) final priority setting. Setting UK health services and community. Participants Patients with dysphagia, carers and professionals who work with children and adults with dysphagia from the UK. Results One hundred and fifty-six speech and language therapists submitted 332 research suggestions related to dysphagia. These were mapped to 88 research recommendations from systematic reviews to form 24 ‘uncertainty topics’ (knowledge gaps that are answerable by research). Four patients, 1 carer and 30 healthcare professionals collaboratively produced 77 research questions in relation to these topics. Thereafter, 387 patients, carers and professionals with experience of dysphagia prioritised 10 research questions using an interim prioritisation survey. Votes and feedback for each question were collated and reviewed by the steering and dysphagia reference groups. Nine further questions were added to the long-list and top 10 lists of priority questions were agreed. Conclusion Three top 10 lists of topics grouped as adults, neonates and children, and all ages, and a further long list of questions were identified by patients, carers and healthcare professionals as research priorities to improve the lives of those with dysphagia

Research priorities relating to communication and swallowing for people with learning disabilities across the lifespan

Purpose This research priority setting partnership (PSP) aims to collaboratively identify the “top ten” research priorities relating to communication and swallowing for children and adults with learning disabilities, across the lifespan in the UK, using a modified James Lind Alliance approach. Design/methodology/approach A steering group and reference group were established to oversee the PSP. A survey of speech and language therapists (SLTs) resulted in 157 research suggestions. These were further developed into 95 research questions through a multi-stakeholder workshop. Questions were prioritised via an online card-sort activity completed by SLTs, health-care or education professionals and carers. Research questions were analysed thematically. Ten adults with learning disabilities were supported to assign ratings to themes reflecting their prioritisation. The top ten research priorities were identified by combining results from these activities. Findings The top ten research priorities related to intervention, outcome measurement and service delivery around communication and dysphagia. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first UK-wide research PSP on learning disabilities and speech and language therapy across the lifespan. It uses a novel approach to incorporate the preferences of people with learning disabilities in the prioritisation

Editorial Perspective: Speaking up for developmental language disorder - the top 10 priorities for research

Developmental language disorder (DLD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions, yet is chronically underserved, with far fewer children receiving clinical services than expected from prevalence estimates, and very little research attention relative to other neurodevelopmental conditions of similar prevalence and severity. This editorial describes a research priority-setting exercise undertaken by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, which aims to redress this imbalance. From consultations with researchers, practitioners and individuals with lived experience, 10 research priorities emerge. Our goal is to share these priorities with the wider research community, to raise awareness and encourage research collaboration to improve outcomes for young people with DLD

Natural radionuclides in sediment and in arcid clam (<i>Anadara granosa</i> L.) and gobiid mudskipper (<i>Boleophthalmus boddaerti</i> Cuv. and Va.)

5-9Distribution of 238U, 226Ra and 210Pb and 210Po in sediment and in tissues of A. granosa and B. Boddaerti from coastal waters of Bombay was estimated. The levels of these natural radionuclides were highest in the deposited sediment (20 ± 4.84, 43.6 ± 12.2, 356 ± 68.8 and 784.1 ± 174.2 mBq g-1 dry sediment respectively for 238U, 226Ra and 210Pb and 210Po. Concentration of 210Po was significantly higher compared to other nuclides in the soft tissues of A. granosa. The levels of 210Pb and 210Po were higher in tissues of A. granosa than in those of B. Boddaerti from the same environment. Higher ratio of 210Po and 210Pb activity in the clam and fish suggests 210Po is more reactive than its precursor 210Pb and also there is a distinct bioaccumulation of unsupported 210Po than that supported by 210Pb