Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) has recently been applied to eco-driving to intelligently reduce fuel consumption and travel time. While previous studies synthesize simulators and model-free DRL ...(MFDRL), this work proposes a Safe Off-policy Model-Based Reinforcement Learning (SMORL) algorithm for eco-driving. SMORL integrates three key components, namely a computationally efficient model-based trajectory optimizer, a value function learned off-policy and a learned safe set. The advantages over the existing literature are three-fold. First, the combination of off-policy learning and the use of a physics-based model improves the sample efficiency. Second, the training does not require any extrinsic rewarding mechanism for constraint satisfaction. Third, the feasibility of trajectory is guaranteed by using a safe set approximated by deep generative models. The performance of SMORL is benchmarked over 100 trips against a baseline controller representing human drivers, a non-learning-based optimal controller, a previously designed MFDRL strategy, and the wait-and-see optimal solution. In simulation, SMORL reduces the fuel consumption by more than 21% while keeping the average speed comparable while compared to the baseline controller and demonstrates a better fuel economy while driving faster compared to the MFDRL agent and the non-learning-based optimal controller.
Nucleosomes are the fundamental repeating unit of chromatin and comprise the structural building blocks of the living eukaryotic genome. Micrococcal nuclease (MNase) has long been used to delineate ...nucleosomal organization. Microarray-based nucleosome mapping experiments in yeast chromatin have revealed regularly-spaced translational phasing of nucleosomes. These data have been used to train computational models of sequence-directed nuclesosome positioning, which have identified ubiquitous strong intrinsic nucleosome positioning signals. Here, we successfully apply this approach to nucleosome positioning experiments from human chromatin. The predictions made by the human-trained and yeast-trained models are strongly correlated, suggesting a shared mechanism for sequence-based determination of nucleosome occupancy. In addition, we observed striking complementarity between classifiers trained on experimental data from weakly versus heavily digested MNase samples. In the former case, the resulting model accurately identifies nucleosome-forming sequences; in the latter, the classifier excels at identifying nucleosome-free regions. Using this model we are able to identify several characteristics of nucleosome-forming and nucleosome-disfavoring sequences. First, by combining results from each classifier applied de novo across the human ENCODE regions, the classifier reveals distinct sequence composition and periodicity features of nucleosome-forming and nucleosome-disfavoring sequences. Short runs of dinucleotide repeat appear as a hallmark of nucleosome-disfavoring sequences, while nucleosome-forming sequences contain short periodic runs of GC base pairs. Second, we show that nucleosome phasing is most frequently predicted flanking nucleosome-free regions. The results suggest that the major mechanism of nucleosome positioning in vivo is boundary-event-driven and affirm the classical statistical positioning theory of nucleosome organization.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) presents commonly with avulsion fractures of its tibial attachment. An avulsion fracture of the PCL, if not surgically fixed, may lead to secondary changes in ...the knee joint. Various fixation techniques have been explored with use of lag screws, steel wires, absorbable screws, suture anchors and straddle nails. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and functional outcome of open reduction and internal fixation of tibial avulsion injuries of the PCL using cannulated cancellous screws.
We performed open reduction and internal fixation using cannulated cancellous screws in 14 patients (mean age, 33.9 years) with isolated PCL avulsion injuries. Patients with a duration of injury more than 12 weeks were excluded. The minimum follow-up period was 12 months. Results were assessed radiologically and clinically. Final functional outcome was assessed using the Lysholm knee scoring system.
The average follow-up period was 13.5 months. At the final follow-up, all 14 patients achieved fracture union. The average flexion was 121.7°±9.2° with full extension achieved in all patients. Mild instability (1+) was noted in 4 patients. The Lysholm functional score was excellent in 11 patients, good in 2 patients and fair in 1 patient with an average score of 97±7.6.
Stable early fixation for PCL avulsion injuries with early controlled mobilization provided excellent to good results. However, fixation should not be discouraged for late-presenting patients because good to fair results can be achieved in such cases.
Introduction: In severe burns, there is a profound systemic response that persists till the wounds heal. Since these physiological and metabolic derangements are dynamic over the clinical course of ...burns, it is expected that both trend of change and absolute values of the protein and lipid levels, to have a bearing on the prognosis and the ultimate outcome. Hence, this study was envisaged evaluate the prognostic value of these metabolic variables in burn patients.
Materials and Methods: The study conducted on 100 adult patients of thermal burn (20% and 60% total body surface area). Serum albumin, globulin, total proteins, cholesterol and triglycerides (TGs) were estimated on alternate days starting from day till discharge or death. The 1st-day value and the trend of serial values throughout the clinical course were compared among nonsurvivors and survivors.
Results: Mean serum values of albumin, globulin, and total protein on first-day of burns in survivor group were higher. Serum albumin levels of ≤2.1 g/dl at day one was a poor prognostic factor. The trend in the serum values of albumin, globulin, total protein, and cholesterol in survivor group was significantly positive and negative in nonsurvivors. Serum TGs, however, showed a nonsignificant negative trend in the survivors. Among the biochemical markers evaluated, most significant prognostic parameter was serum albumin, with maximum sensitivity and specificity.
Conclusion: The cutoff values of proteins and trend of subsequent serial values can guide metabolic manipulations, albumin infusion, and dietary intake. In addition, these biochemical parameters merit inclusion in burn prognostic index scales.
Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs), in particular those with multiple power sources, have the potential to significantly reduce fuel consumption and travel time in real-world driving conditions. ...In particular, the eco-driving problem seeks to design optimal speed and power usage profiles based upon look-ahead information from connectivity and advanced mapping features, to minimize the fuel consumption over a given itinerary. In this work, the eco-driving problem is formulated as a Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP), which is then solved with a state-of-art Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) Actor Critic algorithm, Proximal Policy Optimization. An eco-driving simulation environment is developed for training and evaluation purposes. To benchmark the performance of the DRL controller, a baseline controller representing the human driver, a trajectory optimization algorithm and the wait-and-see deterministic optimal solution are presented. With a minimal onboard computational requirement and a comparable travel time, the DRL controller reduces the fuel consumption by more than 17% compared against the baseline controller by modulating the vehicle velocity over the route and performing energy-efficient approach and departure at signalized intersections, over-performing the more computationally demanding trajectory optimization method.
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Flap monitoring using partial pressure of oxygen (pO
2
) is a proven modality. Instruments needed are expensive and are not readily available to a clinician. Here, pO
2
of flap ...has been determined using readily available and cheap methods, and a cut-off value is calculated which helps in predicting flap outcome.
Methods and Results:
Total 235 points on 84 skin flaps were studied. Capillary blood was collected from flap and fingertip using 1-ml syringes after at least 30 min of flap inset, and pO
2
analysed using blood gas analyser. Fall/change of pO
2
(difference of mean of pO
2
diff-pO
2
) was also calculated by subtracting the flap pO
2
from the finger pO
2
. Flap was monitored clinically in post-operative period and divided into two groups depending on its survival with Group 1 – dead points and Group 2 – alive points. pO
2
and diff-pO
2
amongst both the groups were compared and found to be statistically different (
P
= 0.0001). Cut-off value calculated for pO
2
was found to be <86.3 mmHg with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 89.05%. The difference of >68.503 mmHg of flap pO
2
compared from finger pO
2
was calculated as a cut-off with sensitivity of 94.12 and specificity of 79.60%.
Conclusions:
Flap areas having intra-operative pO
2
value <86.3 mmHG have higher chances (60.71%) of getting necrosis later. Similarly, if diff-pO
2
compared to fingertip is >68.5 mmHg, chances of those points getting necrosed in post-operative period are high.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Listeria is an uncommon cause of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in the United States. Listeria should be suspected as a cause of SBP when the patient has diphtheria-like organisms on ...ascitic/blood cultures, iron overload/hemochromatosis, exposure to farm animals, or poor response to empiric therapy within 48-72 h. Diagnosis of SBP is made if the ascitic fluid shows polymorphonuclear cell count >250 cells/mm(3) without an intra-abdominal source of infection. Ampicillin with or without an aminoglycoside is the treatment of choice. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is recommended for prophylaxis in patients with a previous episode of Listeria SBP.
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