Heterogeneous LTE/ Wi-Fi architecture for intelligent transportation systems

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) make use of advanced technologies to enhance road safety and improve traffic efficiency. It is anticipated that ITS will play a vital future role in improving traffic efficiency, safety, comfort and emissions. In order to assist the passengers to travel safely, efficiently and conveniently, several application requirements have to be met simultaneously. In addition to the delivery of regular traffic and safety information, vehicular networks have been recently required to support infotainment services. Previous vehicular network designs and architectures do not satisfy this increasing traffic demand as they are setup for either voice or data traffic, which is not suitable for the transfer of vehicular traffic. This new requirement is one of the key drivers behind the need for new mobile wireless broadband architectures and technologies. For this purpose, this thesis proposes and investigates a heterogeneous IEEE 802.11 and LTE vehicular system that supports both infotainment and ITS traffic control data. IEEE 802.11g is used for V2V communications and as an on-board access network while, LTE is used for V2I communications. A performance simulation-based study is conducted to validate the feasibility of the proposed system in an urban vehicular environment. The system performance is evaluated in terms of data loss, data rate, delay and jitter. Several simulation scenarios are performed and evaluated. In the V2I-only scenario, the delay, jitter and data drops for both ITS and video traffic are within the acceptable limits, as defined by vehicular application requirements. Although a tendency of increase in video packet drops during handover from one eNodeB to another is observed yet, the attainable data loss rate is still below the defined benchmarks. In the integrated V2V-V2I scenario, data loss in uplink ITS traffic was initially observed so, Burst communication technique is applied to prevent packet losses in the critical uplink ITS traffic. A quantitative analysis is performed to determine the number of packets per burst, the inter-packet and inter-burst intervals. It is found that a substantial improvement is achieved using a two-packet Burst, where no packets are lost in the uplink direction. The delay, jitter and data drops for both uplink and downlink ITS traffic, and video traffic are below the benchmarks of vehicular applications. Thus, the results indicate that the proposed heterogeneous system offers acceptable performance that meets the requirements of the different vehicular applications. All simulations are conducted on OPNET Network Modeler and results are subjected to a 95% confidence analysis

Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of New Bioactive Oxadiazole Derivatives as Anticancer Agents Targeting Bcl-2

A series of 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-5-substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazoles, 4a–m, were designed, synthesized and tested in vitro as potential pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 inhibitory anticancer agents based on our previously reported hit compounds. Synthesis of the target 1,3,4-oxadiazoles was readily accomplished through a cyclization reaction of indole carboxylic acid hydrazide 2 with substituted carboxylic acid derivatives 3a–m in the presence of phosphorus oxychloride. New compounds 4a–m showed a range of IC50 values concentrated in the low micromolar range selectively in Bcl-2 positive human cancer cell lines. The most potent candidate 4-trifluoromethyl substituted analogue 4j showed selective IC50 values of 0.52–0.88 μM against Bcl-2 expressing cell lines with no inhibitory effects in the Bcl-2 negative cell line. Moreover, 4j showed binding that was two-fold more potent than the positive control gossypol in the Bcl-2 ELISA binding affinity assay. Molecular modeling studies helped to further rationalize anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 binding and identified compound 4j as a candidate with drug-like properties for further investigation as a selective Bcl-2 inhibitory anticancer agent

Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of New Bioactive Oxadiazole Derivatives as Anticancer Agents Targeting Bcl-2

From MDPI via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: accepted 2020-11-21, pub-electronic 2020-11-26Publication status: PublishedA series of 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-5-substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazoles, 4a−m, were designed, synthesized and tested in vitro as potential pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 inhibitory anticancer agents based on our previously reported hit compounds. Synthesis of the target 1,3,4-oxadiazoles was readily accomplished through a cyclization reaction of indole carboxylic acid hydrazide 2 with substituted carboxylic acid derivatives 3a−m in the presence of phosphorus oxychloride. New compounds 4a−m showed a range of IC50 values concentrated in the low micromolar range selectively in Bcl-2 positive human cancer cell lines. The most potent candidate 4-trifluoromethyl substituted analogue 4j showed selective IC50 values of 0.52−0.88 μM against Bcl-2 expressing cell lines with no inhibitory effects in the Bcl-2 negative cell line. Moreover, 4j showed binding that was two-fold more potent than the positive control gossypol in the Bcl-2 ELISA binding affinity assay. Molecular modeling studies helped to further rationalize anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 binding and identified compound 4j as a candidate with drug-like properties for further investigation as a selective Bcl-2 inhibitory anticancer agent

Synthesis and evaluation of 5-(1H-indol-3-yl)-N-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-amines as Bcl-2 inhibitory anticancer agents

A series of 5-(1H-indol-3-yl)-N-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-amines 8a-j has been designed, synthesized and tested in vitro as potential pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-inhibitory anticancer agents based on our previous lead compound 8a. Synthesis of the target compounds was readily accomplished through a cyclisation reaction between indole-3-carboxylic acid hydrazide (5) and substituted isothiocyanates 6a-j, followed by oxidative cyclodesulfurization of the corresponding thiosemicarbazide 7a-j using 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin. Active compounds of the series 8a-j were found to have sub-micromolar IC50 values selectively in Bcl-2 expressing human cancer cell lines; notably the 2-nitrophenyl analogue 8a was found to exhibit potent activity, and compounds 8a and 8e possessed comparable Bcl-2 binding affinity (ELISA assay) to the established natural product-based Bcl-2 inhibitor, gossypol. Molecular modeling studies helped to further rationalise anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 binding, and identified compounds 8a and 8e as candidates for further development as Bcl-2 inhibitory anticancer agents

Urban electric vehicles: a contemporary business case

In a world where energy supply security and environmental protection are major concerns, the development of green vehicles is becoming a necessity. The Electric vehicle (EV) is one of the most promising technologies that will make the “green dream” come true. This paper is a contemporary business case that encourages the immediate deployment of urban EVs. It proposes a model in which we can profit from the benefits of urban EVs namely, high energy efficiency, emissions reduction, small size and noise reduction. The model mitigates the EV potential limitations such as energy source, charging infrastructure, impact on electrical power system and cost issues. It also provides ideas to overcome the barriers of the technology application in order to speed up their commercialization. This study reveals that having an environmentally friendly vehicle can soon become a reality if our collaborative efforts are properly directed

Evaluating and analyzing navigation efficiency for the River Nile (Case study: Ensa-Naga Hamady reach)

Computer-based systems that aid users in judgment and evaluation the navigation efficiency were developed. The effect of the dredging processes for many activities on the river stability at the second reach, which extends from Esna to Naga Hamady barrage in the river Nile, was analyzed. Rating curves downstream Esna Barrage using statistical model Minitab 16 for before and after dredging the navigational path were estimated. The significant changes in water levels just after dredging was occurred and with time the motion of bed particles towards the pools that were created from dredging which mentioned the river became more dynamics. The morphological changes at the location of navigation bottlenecks from 1982 to 2015 were studied to conclude the factors might affect frequent sedimentation. The integrated management of the dredging process was concluded to avoid and mitigate the direct river disturbance consequently keep navigational path efficiency and the results were presented using GIS. Keywords: Navigation, Management, Dredging, Bottlenecks, River Nile, GI

Trichogenic effect of low level laser therapy combined with platelet-rich plasma for the management of androgenetic alopecia

Background: (AGA) is a very common hair disorder in men, Topical minoxidil and more recently low-level light therapy and Platelet-rich plasma therapy have been used in the management of (AGA). Objectives: To assess the Trichogenic effect of LLLT combined with PRP in the management of AGA. Patients and methods: Forty seven patients with AGAwere subjected to PRP therapy plus LLLT, affected area of all patients were treated for three months and then follow up for another three months. Efficacy was evaluated using global photography, folliscopic pictures analysis, answers for standardized hair growth questions and score of patient Gratification. Results: There was statistically significant improvement in diameter, vellus hair, terminal hair and density after treatment for three months although these improvements were decreased at three month after stoppage of treatment but still better than the baseline. Conclusion combination of LLLT with PRP could be a good treatment modality of AGA

COPD-bronchiectasis overlap syndrome: Are there clinical, physiological and radiological synergistic effects?

Introduction: The coexistence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis is increasingly diagnosed in clinical practice; however this overlap is not well studied. Aim: To study the impact of overlap between of COPD and bronchiectasis on patient clinical, physiological and radiological indices as well as health related quality of life (HRQOL). Patients and methods: One hundred eighty-four patients were included; 68 patients had COPD, 68 had bronchiectasis, and 48 had overlapping COPD and bronchiectasis. Clinical assessment, arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis, pulmonary function tests, and high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) chest with Bhalla scoring were done. HRQOL were assessed using the arabic version of St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Results: Dyspnea scale significantly increased in COPD, and overlapping COPD and bronchiectasis groups compared to bronchiectasis group. There was no significant difference between the three groups regarding ABG values, spirometeric parameters, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and SGRQ score. Bronchiectasis group had a significantly higher total Bhalla score with significant deterioration of spirometeric parameters and ABG values with increasing radiological extent and severity of bronchiectasis. Conclusion: The overlap between COPD and bronchiectasis did not significantly impair physiological parameters or HRQOL in comparison to either disease alone. Keywords: HRCT chest, Spirometery, Bhalla scor