Naturalistic driving study data applied to road infrastructure:a systematic review

Introduction: Naturalistic driving studies (NDS) have great potential to characterize the road infrastructure factors influencing everyday driving. A systematic review was undertaken to evaluate the objectives, data processing, and analyses in best-practice applications of NDS data to road infrastructure. Method: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic search of seven databases was conducted on 27 June 2023 (PROSPERO CRD42023434948). Fifty-three English-language, peer-reviewed studies were analyzed on the basis of the primary infrastructure category reflected in the research aims. Results: Studies described curves (14), turns at intersections (8), intersections (6), multi-modal treatments (6), ramps (4), work zones (4), charging (2), and other factors (9). Each study was assessed for the risk of methodological bias using amended National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute templates for Quality Assurance. 74% of studies were assessed to be of ’Good’ quality, 13% of ‘Fair’ quality, and 13% of ‘Poor’ quality. Road infrastructure was characterized by external video (38%) complemented by non-NDS sources including satellite imagery (21%) and government data (19%). Data preparation was required in 91% of studies to extract meaningful variables (e.g. manual video coding) and/or link multiple datasets. Analysis predominantly determined correlations between aspects of driver behavior (speed, trajectory, etc.) and infrastructure factors (geometry, lane configuration, etc.). Conclusions: The methods employed were broadly applicable, but required considerable subject-specific adaptation for non-NDS datasets and/or time-consuming video coding. The incorporation of road infrastructure factors in NDS research can continue to be improved by reducing the computational cost of sample processing.Practical Applications: Encouraged by the adaptability of the identified methods, NDS research has the potential to benefit from the consideration of road infrastructure factors in a Safe System context. The analytical requirements for all components of the Safe System should be considered when planning future NDS data collections and/or analysis.</p

Determination of Residual Epichlorohydrin in Sevelamer Hydrochloride by Static Headspace Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detection

A sensitive static headspace gas chromatographic method was developed and validated for the determination of residual epichlorohydrin (ECH) in sevelamer hydrochloride (SVH) drug substance. This method utilized a Phenomenex Zebron ZB-WAX GC column, helium as carrier gas with flame ionization detection. The critical experimental parameters, such as, headspace vial incubation time and incubation temperature were studied and optimized. The method was validated as per United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) and International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines in terms of detection limit (DL), quantitation limit (QL), linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity and robustness. A linear range from 0.30 to 10 μg/mL was obtained with the coefficient of determination (r2) 0.999. The DL and QL of ECH were 0.09 μg/mL and 0.30 μg/mL, respectively. The recovery obtained for ECH was between 91.7 and 96.6%. Also, the specificity of the method was proved through gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This method was applied successfully to determine the content of residual ECH in SVH bulk drug

Correlation between Serum Phosphate, Serum Magnesium levels and Severity of Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most prevalent microvascular complications of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). While magnesium and phosphate are essential for neuromuscular function, their association with DPN remains underexplored. Objective: To assess the correlation between serum magnesium and phosphate levels with the severity of DPN in patients with T2DM. Methods: This prospective observational study included 80 T2DM patients presenting with neuropathic symptoms. Severity of DPN was assessed using the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score (TCNS) and confirmed by nerve conduction studies. Serum magnesium and phosphate levels were measured and analysed against neuropathy severity. Results: The mean age of participants was 51.77 ± 11.1 years. DPN prevalence was 75%, with significant associations found between neuropathy severity and reduced serum magnesium (p=0.001), phosphate levels (p=0.003), higher HbA1c (p&lt;0.001), older age (p&lt;0.001), male gender (p=0.003), and longer diabetes duration (p=0.001). Magnesium demonstrated a stronger predictive value for DPN severity than phosphate. Conclusion: Serum magnesium and phosphate levels inversely correlate with DPN severity in T2DM. Serum magnesium may serve as a better predictive marker. Routine screening of these electrolytes could aid in early detection and management of DPN

Angiogenic peptide nanofibers repair cardiac tissue defect after myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction remains one of the top leading causes of death in the world and the damage sustained in the heart eventually develops into heart failure. Limited conventional treatment options due to the inability of the myocardium to regenerate after injury and shortage of organ donors require the development of alternative therapies to repair the damaged myocardium. Current efforts in repairing damage after myocardial infarction concentrates on using biologically derived molecules such as growth factors or stem cells, which carry risks of serious side effects including the formation of teratomas. Here, we demonstrate that synthetic glycosaminoglycan (GAG) mimetic peptide nanofiber scaffolds induce neovascularization in cardiovascular tissue after myocardial infarction, without the addition of any biologically derived factors or stem cells. When the GAG mimetic nanofiber gels were injected in the infarct site of rodent myocardial infarct model, increased VEGF-A expression and recruitment of vascular cells was observed. This was accompanied with significant degree of neovascularization and better cardiac performance when compared to the control saline group. The results demonstrate the potential of future clinical applications of these bioactive peptide nanofibers as a promising strategy for cardiovascular repair. Statement of Significance We present a synthetic bioactive peptide nanofiber system can enhance cardiac function and enhance cardiovascular regeneration after myocardial infarction (MI) without the addition of growth factors, stem cells or other biologically derived molecules. Current state of the art in cardiac repair after MI utilize at least one of the above mentioned biologically derived molecules, thus our approach is ground-breaking for cardiovascular therapy after MI. In this work, we showed that synthetic glycosaminoglycan (GAG) mimetic peptide nanofiber scaffolds induce neovascularization and cardiomyocyte differentiation for the regeneration of cardiovascular tissue after myocardial infarction in a rat infarct model. When the peptide nanofiber gels were injected in infarct site at rodent myocardial infarct model, recruitment of vascular cells was observed, neovascularization was significantly induced and cardiac performance was improved. These results demonstrate the potential of future clinical applications of these bioactive peptide nanofibers as a promising strategy for cardiovascular repair. © 2017 Acta Materialia Inc

Synthesis, Humidity Sensing, Photocatalytic and Antimicrobial Properties of Thin Film Nanoporous PbWO4-WO3 Nanocomposites

A humidity sensor thin film based on nanoporous PbWO4-WO3 composites has been prepared by spin coating technique with different weight ratio of PbWO4 (Pb) and WO3 (WO) (PWWO-01, PWWO-82, PWWO-64, PWWO-46, PWWO-28, PWWO-01) and their humidity sensing properties have also been investigated at different relative humidity (RH) in the range of 5% - 98% at room temperature with dc resistance. It is found that composite PWWO-28 show best humidity sensing properties with the sensitivity factor value of (Sf) 3733. The response and recovery time of humidity sensor are about 50 s and 120 s, respectively. High sensitivity, narrow hysteresis loop, rapid response and recovery, prominent stability and good repeatability are obtained. Synthesized PbWO4-WO3 composites were characterized by power X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, BET and photoluminescence studies. The photocatalytic result demonstrated photocatalytic efficiency of nonporous PWWO-28 composite.  The antimicrobial activity of the composites was determined by disc diffusion method

Biosynthesis, structural characterization and humidity sensing properties of cellulose/ZnO nanocomposite

The present work demonstrates the applications of a nanocomposite of the cellulose polymer and ZnO nanoparticles with 1:1 weight ratio, prepared by a green assisted precipitation method for a high-performance resistive type humidity sensor. The morphology and nanostructure of prepared cellulose/ZnO composite were characterization by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy are confirmed the decoration of ZnO nanoparticles on cellulose polymer matrix surface. The humidity sensing martials was coated onto the interdigital electrodes. The sensitivity, response/recover and stability studies performance of fabricated humidity sensors have been monitored in 5 to 98% relative humidity (%RH) at room temperature (37 °C). The response and recovery times of the fabricated sensors are observed as ≈ 26 s and ≈ 53 s respectively, and the sensitivity factor (Sf) is 2656 ± 103 Ω. Possible mechanisms of the humidity sensor based on water-induced conductivity increase are discussed. Also, the energy band of cellulose/ZnO nanocomposite was simulated by density functional theory (DFT) studies. The cellulose/ZnO nanocomposite humidity sensor has great potential for practical field applications