Electronic Toll Collection System based on Radio Frequency Identification System

This papaer entitled electronic toll collection system based on Radio Frequncy Identification System explained in detail based on current issue at toll collection system. There are some obstacles faced every day where the users spent their valuable time in queue at tollgate due to traffic congestion as well as using traditional manual method in most existing toll ETC system to collect toll from road users. Besides that, the barrier design where each vehicle stop waiting until barrier lift which consider source of time delay. To tackle stated problems, an electronic toll collection system is proposed which based on RFID technology. The integrated system consists of two main sections, electronic sides where all input data received from while database management office is where all necessary information stored. To compare the current ETC system, in this research elaborated internet of things where all data transmit through cloud and then to the main office in real time. Not only that, there is some enhancement based on barrier design where, gate is remained open for all vehicles with sufficient tags without requiring to stop to eliminate time delay.By check system throughput compare to existing toll systems, various tests have been carried out in different method where proposed system throughput much higher percentage the current system

Synthesis and physicochemical properties of spherical catalysts based on TiO2-SiO2/MxOy, where M - Co, Cr

Catalysts TiO2-SiO2 composition in the form of hollow spheres modified cobalt and chromium was obtained. Spatial structure of spherical samples after heat treatment was study by method of 3D microtomography. Status cations of transition elements and titanium was characterized by UV-Vis DRS. The catalysts were tested in the oxidation reaction of heptane

Preparasi dan Karakterisasi Nanosilika dari Jerami Padi

PREPARASI DAN KARAKTERISASI NANOSILIKA DARI JERAMI PADIABSTRAKPenelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui karakteristik silika yang diekstraksi dari jerami padi yang diperoleh dari wilayah USAha tani padi Pekalongan. Silika diperoleh dengan metode sol-gel, yang melibatkan ekstraksi silika dengan larutan alkali dan gelasi silika menggunakan larutan asam. Ditemukan bahwa hasil tertinggi diperoleh dari ekstraksi menggunakan larutan KOH 5% dengan waktu ekstraksi 60 menit, dan pH gelasi 7.0. Persiapan berhasil diproduksi dengan memanaskan jerami padi pada suhu 10 °C/menit dan menahannya pada suhu 500°C untuk memudahkan penguraian dan pengadopsian bahan organik sambil menghindari pengapian otomatis. Komposisi kimia SiO2 diperkuat oleh EDS dan FTIR dan sifat amorf oleh XRD.Serbuk nanosilika dengan ukuran pori rata – rata 45,3869 nm dan memiliki permukaan spesifik (94,761 m2/g).Kata kunci: Jerami padi; Nanopartikel silika, Sol gel PREPAPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION NANOSILICAFROM RICE STAWABSTRACTThis study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of silica extracted from rice straw obtained from rice farming region of Pekalongan. The silica was obtained using sol-gel method, which involves extraction of silica using alkalis solution and gelation of the silica using acid solution. It was found that the highest yield was obtained from the extraction using 5% KOH solution with the extraction time of 60 minutes, and gelation pH of 7.0. Preparation was successfully produced by heating rice straw at 10 °C/min and holding at 500°C to facilitate decomposition and gasification of the organics while avoiding auto-ignition. The SiO2 chemical composition was confirmed by EDS and FTIR and the amorphous nature by XRD. Nanosilica powders with a 45,3869 nm average pore size and have specific surface (94,761 m2/g)

Heart-rate sensitive optical coherence angiography for measuring vascular changes due to posttraumatic brain injury in mice

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) (BB/K501190/1). Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (EP/K038125/1)

Facility and home based HIV Counseling and Testing: a comparative analysis of uptake of services by rural communities in southwestern Uganda

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Uganda, public human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) services are mainly provided through the facility based model, although the home based approach is being promoted as a strategy for improving access to VCT. However the uptake of VCT varies according to service delivery model and is influenced by a number of factors. The aim of this study therefore, was to compare predictors for uptake of facility and home based VCT in a rural context.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A longitudinal study with cross-sectional investigative phases was conducted at two sites (Rugando and Kabingo) in southwestern Uganda between November 2007 (baseline) and March 2008 (follow up). During the baseline visit, facility based VCT was offered at the main health centre in Rugando while home based VCT was offered at the household level in Kabingo and a mixed survey questionnaire administered to the respondents. The results presented in this paper are derived from only the baseline data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Nine hundred ninety four (994) respondents were interviewed, of whom 500 received facility based VCT in Rugando and 494 home based VCT in Kabingo during the baseline visit. The respondents had a mean age of 32.2 years (SD 10.9) and were mainly female (68 percent). Clients who received facility based VCT were less likely to be residents of the more rural households (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 0.14, 95% CI 0.07, 0.22). The clients who received home based VCT were less likely to report having an STI symptom (aOR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.46, 0.86), and more likely to be worried about discrimination if they contracted AIDS (aOR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.22, 2.61).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The uptake of VCT provided through either the facility or home based models is influenced by client characteristics such as proximity to service delivery points, HIV related symptoms, and fear of discrimination in rural Uganda. Interventions that seek to improve uptake of VCT should provide potential clients with both facility and home based VCT options within a given setting. The clients are then able to select a model for VCT that best fits their characteristics. This is likely to have positive implications for both service coverage and uptake by different sub-groups within particular communities.</p

Women's dietary changes before and during pregnancy: A systematic review

Background: dietary intake before and during pregnancy has significant health outcomes for both mother and child, including a healthy gestational weight gain. To ensure effective interventions are successfully developed to improve dietary intake during pregnancy, it is important to understand what dietary changes pregnant women make without intervention. Aims: to systematically identify and review studies examining women's dietary changes before and during pregnancy and to identify characteristics of the women making these changes. Methods: a systematic search strategy was employed using three databases (Web of Science, CINAHL and PubMed) in May 2016. Search terms included those relating to preconception, pregnancy and diet. All papers were quality assessed using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network methodology checklist for cohort studies.The search revealed 898 articles narrowed to full-text review of 23 studies. In total, 11 research articles were included in the review, describing nine different studies. The findings were narratively summarised in line with the aims of the review. Findings: the included studies showed marked heterogeneity, which impacts on the findings. However, the majority report an increase in energy intake (kcal or kJ) during pregnancy. Of the studies that reported changes through food group comparisons, a majority reported a significant increase in fruit and vegetable consumption, a decrease in egg consumption, a decrease in fried and fast food consumption and a decrease in coffee and tea consumption from before to during pregnancy. The characteristics of the women participating in these studies, suggest that age, education and pregnancy intention are associated with healthier dietary changes; however these factors were only assessed in a small number of studies. Key conclusions: the 11 included articles show varied results in dietary intake during pregnancy as compared to before. More research is needed regarding who makes these healthy changes, this includes consistency regarding measurement tools, outcomes and time points. Implications for practice: Midwives as well as intervention developers need to be aware of the dietary changes women may spontaneously engage in when becoming pregnant, so that care and interventions can build on these

Loss of Adenomatous polyposis coli function renders intestinal epithelial cells resistant to the cytokine IL-22

Interleukin-22 (IL-22) is a critical immune defence cytokine that maintains intestinal homeostasis and promotes wound healing and tissue regeneration, which can support the growth of colorectal tumours. Mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli gene (Apc) are a major driver of familial colorectal cancers (CRCs). How IL-22 contributes to APC-mediated tumorigenesis is poorly understood. To investigate IL-22 signalling in wild-type (WT) and APC-mutant cells, we performed RNA sequencing (RNAseq) of IL-22-treated murine small intestinal epithelial organoids. In WT epithelia, antimicrobial defence and cellular stress response pathways were most strongly induced by IL-22. Surprisingly, although IL-22 activates signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in APC-mutant cells, STAT3 target genes were not induced. Our analyses revealed that ApcMin/Min cells are resistant to IL-22 due to reduced expression of the IL-22 receptor, and increased expression of inhibitors of STAT3, particularly histone deacetylases (HDACs). We further show that IL-22 increases DNA damage and genomic instability, which can accelerate cellular transition from heterozygosity (ApcMin/+) to homozygosity (ApcMin/Min) to drive tumour formation. Our data reveal an unexpected role for IL-22 in promoting early tumorigenesis while excluding a function for IL-22 in transformed epithelial cells

δ-Aminolevulinic acid cytotoxic effects on human hepatocarcinoma cell lines

BACKGROUND: Acute Intermittent Porphyria is a genetic disorder of heme metabolism, characterized by increased levels of porphyrin precursors, δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and porphobilinogen (PBG). ALA has been reported to generate reactive oxygen species and to cause oxidative damage to proteins, subcellular structures and DNA. It is known that oxidative stress can induce apoptosis. The aim of this work was to study the cytotoxic effect of ALA on two hepatocarcinoma cell lines. RESULTS: We have determined the impact of ALA on HEP G2 and HEP 3B hepatocarcinoma cell lines survival as measured by the MTT assay. ALA proved to be cytotoxic in both cell lines however; HEP G2 was more sensitive to ALA than HEP 3B. Addition of hemin or glucose diminished ALA cytotoxicity in HEP G2 cells; instead it was enhanced in HEP 3B cells. Because apoptosis is usually associated with DNA fragmentation, the DNA of ALA treated and untreated cells were analyzed. The characteristic pattern of DNA fragmentation ladders was observed in ALA treated cells. To elucidate the mechanisms of ALA induced apoptosis, we examined its effect on p53 expression. No changes in p53 mRNA levels were observed after exposure of both cell lines to ALA for 24 h. CDK2 and CDK4 protein levels were reduced after ALA treatment at physiological concentrations