The paper proposes motion control strategies for automated road vehicles to handle interactions among vehicles. The control strategies are built in a hierarchical structure, which contains a ...high-level learning-based control, a low-level robust control and an optimization-based supervisor. The purposes of the control strategies are to guarantee collision-free motion of the vehicles, and moreover to improve economy and traveling time performance levels. In the paper two configurations of the hierarchical structure are proposed, which are based on the centralized and independent design for automated vehicle motion. The paper presents the comparison of the two configurations through simulation examples. Moreover, the operation of the independent configuration on a small-scaled indoor test vehicle platform is also presented.
The paper proposes a novel learning-based coordination strategy for lateral control systems of automated vehicles. The motivation of the research is to improve the performance level of the ...coordinated system compared to the conventional model-based reconfigurable solutions. During vehicle maneuvers, the coordinated control system provides torque vectoring and front-wheel steering angle in order to guarantee the various lateral dynamical performances. The performance specifications are guaranteed on two levels, i.e., primary performances are guaranteed by Linear Parameter Varying (LPV) controllers, while secondary performances (e.g., economy and comfort) are maintained by a reinforcement-learning-based (RL) controller. The coordination of the control systems is carried out by a supervisor. The effectiveness of the proposed coordinated control system is illustrated through high velocity vehicle maneuvers.
COVID-19 may unfavourably affect the mental health of individuals in various ways. Accordingly, the concern has been raised that national suicide rates will increase in the wake of the outbreak of ...the pandemic.
In the current study, we tested this conjecture in three age groups (<25; 25–64; ≥65) of the Hungarian total population and the male and female populations. In addition, we assessed whether the pandemic had different effects on counts of suicides committed by violent or non-violent methods. Finally, by comparing the monthly suicide rates in 2020 and the corresponding monthly rates in 2019, we also investigated the “pulling together” hypothesis that postulates that a temporary decrease in suicides may occur after large-scale catastrophic events.
With regard to the total population only the suicide counts of individuals aged 25–64 rose significantly (p < 0.05) during the COVID months of 2020. Similar patterns, but at lower levels of significance (0.05 < p < 0.1), were found in those members of the total population aged 65 or older and among males aged between 25 and 64. Furthermore, we found that the number of violent suicides increased significantly (p < 0.05) during the COVID months. Finally, our results have not confirmed the existence of a “pulling together” phenomenon in association with the COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary.
We used non-individual level data and were therefore unable to control suicide risk factors at the level of individuals.
The number of suicides rose significantly in some subgroups of the Hungarian population during the COVID months of 2020.
•COVID-19 has deleterious effects on mental health.•There are concerns that suicide rates will also increase during the pandemic.•We tested the possible effects of COVID-19 on suicidality in Hungary.•The suicide counts of subjects aged 25–64 rose significantly.•The number of violent suicides also increased significantly.
Excessive consumption of ethanol is one of the most common causes of acute and chronic pancreatitis. Alterations to the gene encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) ...also cause pancreatitis. However, little is known about the role of CFTR in the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced pancreatitis.
We measured CFTR activity based on chloride concentrations in sweat from patients with cystic fibrosis, patients admitted to the emergency department because of excessive alcohol consumption, and healthy volunteers. We measured CFTR levels and localization in pancreatic tissues and in patients with acute or chronic pancreatitis induced by alcohol. We studied the effects of ethanol, fatty acids, and fatty acid ethyl esters on secretion of pancreatic fluid and HCO3−, levels and function of CFTR, and exchange of Cl− for HCO3− in pancreatic cell lines as well as in tissues from guinea pigs and CFTR knockout mice after administration of alcohol.
Chloride concentrations increased in sweat samples from patients who acutely abused alcohol but not in samples from healthy volunteers, indicating that alcohol affects CFTR function. Pancreatic tissues from patients with acute or chronic pancreatitis had lower levels of CFTR than tissues from healthy volunteers. Alcohol and fatty acids inhibited secretion of fluid and HCO3−, as well as CFTR activity, in pancreatic ductal epithelial cells. These effects were mediated by sustained increases in concentrations of intracellular calcium and adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate, depletion of adenosine triphosphate, and depolarization of mitochondrial membranes. In pancreatic cell lines and pancreatic tissues of mice and guinea pigs, administration of ethanol reduced expression of CFTR messenger RNA, reduced the stability of CFTR at the cell surface, and disrupted folding of CFTR at the endoplasmic reticulum. CFTR knockout mice given ethanol or fatty acids developed more severe pancreatitis than mice not given ethanol or fatty acids.
Based on studies of human, mouse, and guinea pig pancreata, alcohol disrupts expression and localization of the CFTR. This appears to contribute to development of pancreatitis. Strategies to increase CFTR levels or function might be used to treat alcohol-associated pancreatitis.
Summary
Background
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases are conditions characterized by a variable progression. Some individuals experience longer asymptomatic periods while others acute ...worsening periods and/or exacerbations triggered by symptom multiplication factors. Medications are adjusted to the patients’ respiratory function, self-assessment of health and emerging certain physical changes. A more effective treatment may be applied by real-time data registered during the patient’s everyday life.
Aim and methods
Introducing new modern digital technology in pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) to help tracking the patients’ medication, thus we systematically reviewed the latest publications on telemedicine and pulmonary telerehabilitation.
Conclusion
The use of the latest digital technologies in PR is very exciting and offers great opportunities while treating patients affected by specific conditions. On the one hand, adherence to medication can be improved in patients with chronic respiratory diseases by using these new state of the art devices; on the other hand, digital devices will also be able to monitor various physiological parameters of patients during their usual everyday activities. Data can be stored on a smartphone and shared with the provider. Relying on this information, physicians will be able to tailor medications and dosage to the specific needs of individual patients. Telerehabilitation may be a sustainable solution to the growing burden of chronic respiratory disease worldwide. However, PR must keep its cornerstones, such as education and motivations, which are most successful when conducted in person. Many issues remain to be resolved in the future, e.g. cybersecurity while using smart devices since they offer unique opportunities for PR.
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•Co-Hydrothermal gasification of Chlorella v. and HC enhances biogas production.•Hydrochar production is optimized using struvite containing microalgae.•Hydrothermal carbonization is ...suitable to produce solid biofuels from wastes.•HCs with different VM contents show enhanced selectivity toward H2 and CH4 in HTG.•Co-Hydrothermal gasification results in increased carbon conversion ratio.
This study investigates enhanced biogas production via co-Hydrothermal gasification (co–HTG) of wet Chlorella vulgaris biomass and hydrochar (HC). Hydrothermal carbonization was applied to valorize struvite containing waste microalgae stream into solid bio-fuel with improved combustion properties. The effects of HC quality and mixing ratio are investigated on biogas yield, composition and carbon conversion ratio. The results show that the application of blending components promotes H2, CH4 formation and selectivity in hydrothermal gasification. The total co-HTG gas yield is increased from 19.13 to 46.95 mol kg-1 at 650 °C and 300 bar by applying 5 wt% HC blending concentration and reduced level of volatile matter content (24.61 wt%). The obtained high hydrogen, methane yields and carbon conversion ratio (19.49, 2.98 mol kg-1, 82.31%, respectively) indicate effective hydrothermal upgrading potentials in case of wet and waste biomass feedstocks.
Bone marrow-derived stromal cells (BMSCs, or as they are frequently referred to as mesenchymal stem cells) have been long known to support hematopoiesis and to regenerate bone, cartilage, and adipose ...tissue. In the last decade, however, a vast amount of data surfaced in the literature to suggest new roles for these cells including tissue regeneration and immunomodulation. A great number of review articles appeared that summarize these new data and focus on different aspects of the physiology of these cells. In this present short review, we will try to summarize the available data based on both mouse and human cells describing how the function of BMSCs might be affected by an infectious environment. These data strongly support the idea that different toll-like receptor ligands can lead to substantial changes in the function of BMSCs that affect their proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and their production and release of immunomodulatory factors.
Both the intake of beneficial olive oil and of harmful trans-fatty acids (TFAs) in consumed foods are of great significance in tumor biology. In our present study we examined the effects they exert ...on the expression patterns of miR-134, miR-132, miR-124-1, miR-9-3 and mTOR in the liver, spleen and kidney of mice treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz a anthracene (DMBA). Feeding of TFA-containing diet significantly increased the expression of all studied miRs and mTORC1 in all organs examined, except the expression of mTORC1 in the spleen and kidney. Diet containing olive oil significantly reduced the expression of miR-124-1, miR-9-3 and mTORC1 in the liver and spleen. In the kidney, apart from the mTORC1 gene, the expression of all miRs examined significantly decreased compared to the DMBA control. According to our results, the cell membrane protective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects of olive oil and the cell membrane damaging, inflammatory, and carcinogenic properties of TFA suggest negative feedback regulatory mechanisms. In contrast to our expectations, mTORC1 gene expression in the kidney has not been shown to be an appropriate biomarker-presumably, because the many complex effects that regulate mTOR expression may quench each other.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The proper regeneration of vessel anastomoses in microvascular surgery is crucial for surgical safety. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) can aid healing by decreasing ...inflammation, apoptosis and oxidative stress. In addition to hematological and hemorheological tests, we examined the biomechanical and histological features of vascular anastomoses with or without PACAP addition and/or using a hemostatic sponge (HS). End-to-end anastomoses were established on the right femoral arteries of rats. On the 21st postoperative day, femoral arteries were surgically removed for evaluation of tensile strength and for histological and molecular biological examination. Effects of PACAP were also investigated in tissue culture in vitro to avoid the effects of PACAP degrading enzymes. Surgical trauma and PACAP absorption altered laboratory parameters; most notably, the erythrocyte deformability decreased. Arterial wall thickness showed a reduction in the presence of HS, which was compensated by PACAP in both the tunica media and adventitia in vivo. The administration of PACAP elevated these parameters in vitro. In conclusion, the application of the neuropeptide augmented elastin expression while HS reduced it, but no significant alterations were detected in collagen type I expression. Elasticity and tensile strength increased in the PACAP group, while it decreased in the HS decreased. Their combined use was beneficial for vascular regeneration.
Adoptive transfer of cultured BMSCs was shown to be immune-suppressive in various inflammatory settings. Many factors play a role in the process, but no master regulator of BMSC-driven ...immunomodulation was identified. Consequently, an assay that might predict BMSC product efficacy is still unavailable. Below, we show that BMSC donor variability can be monitored by IL-10 production of monocytes/macrophages using THP-1 cells (immortalized monocytic leukemia cells) co-cultured with BMSCs. Using a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) assay, we also compared the ability of the different donor BMSCs to suppress T-cell proliferation, another measure of their immune-suppressive ability. We found that the BMSCs from a donor that induced the most IL-10 production were also the most efficient in suppressing T-cell proliferation. Transcriptome studies showed that the most potent BMSC batch also had higher expression of several known key immunomodulatory molecules such as hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), PDL1, and numerous members of the PGE2 pathway, including PTGS1 and TLR4. Multiplex ELISA experiments revealed higher expression of HGF and IL6 by the most potent BMSC donor. Based on these findings, we propose that THP-1 cells may be used to assess BMSC immunosuppressive activity as a product characterization assay.
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