Forecasting Li-ion battery State of Charge using Long-Short-Term-Memory network

Estimating the state of charge (SOC) for lithium-ion batteries (LIB) has become a highly desirable task, but also critical, especially as electrified vehicles become more common. However, due to the non-linear behaviour of these batteries, accurately estimating SOC remains a challenge. As a result, traditional theory-based methods are often being replaced by data-driven approaches, thanks to the greater availability of battery data and advances in artificial intelligence. Recurrent neural networks (RNNs), in particular, are promising methods to be exploited, because they can capture temporal dependencies and predict SOC without a battery model. Long short term memory (LSTM), a specific type of RNN, can accurately predict SOC values in real-time and forecast future SOC values within different time horizons

Long-term effectiveness, safety, and liver stiffness dynamics of PBC treatment with obeticholic acid in real-world

Background & Aims: Several studies have assessed the short-term effectiveness and safety of obeticholic acid (OCA) in the real-world setting. We aimed to extend knowledge on the real-world effectiveness and safety of OCA treatment by expanding sample size and follow-up, and by exploring changes in liver stiffness measurement (LSM) over time. Methods: The RECAPITULATE project involves centres belonging to the “Italian PBC registry” and/or the “Club Epatologi Ospedalieri” PBC working group. Effectiveness was evaluated as biochemical response according to POISE and normal range (NR) criteria (normal alkaline phosphatase/alanine aminotransferase/bilirubin). Safety was assessed as the incidence of de novo/worsening pruritus and discontinuation rate/causes. Available LSMs were also captured. Results: We included 747 patients from 66 Italian centres: mean age 58 years; female/male 88%/14%; median follow-up 24 months [IQR 12-42]; 28% with cirrhosis, and 14% with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH)/PBC overlap syndrome. Probabilities of POISE and NR response increased from baseline to 57% and 20%, respectively, by the 42nd month. The probabilities of response were lower in patients with cirrhosis (p = 0.02 and p = 0.004 for POISE and NR), but not different between patients with AIH/PBC and pure PBC (p = 0.8). Overall, 130 patients (17%) discontinued treatment, mainly due to pruritus (36.9%), while 28.5% did so after developing hepatic events. The discontinuation rate was higher in patients with cirrhosis (p <0.001). LSM was available in 573 patients (∼77%), of whom 255 had multiple measurements. LSM variation over time differed based on the attainment of POISE biochemical response (expected mean annual variation -0.48 [-0.78, -0.19] in responders vs. +0.33 [-0.07, 0.73] in non-responders, respectively, p <0.001). Conclusions: Our findings confirm the effectiveness and safety profiles of OCA in the medium/long term and demonstrate that biochemical response is associated with the change in LSM over time. Impact and Implications: After the conditional approval of OCA for the treatment of PBC, the main confirmatory study failed to demonstrate OCA's ability to reduce liver-related events, leading the EMA to revoke the drug's marketing authorization. The ensuing scientific debate highlights an urgent need for further evidence from real-world practice. In the largest real-world series of patients treated with OCA to date, we confirm that the drug's effectiveness and safety profiles are maintained over a medium-to-long follow-up period. Valuable data for the management of the drug in relevant subgroups of patients, such as those with cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis/PBC overlap syndrome, are also provided. Our original results on liver stiffness measurement variation over time suggest a favourable impact of OCA on fibrosis progression, particularly in patients achieving a biochemical response to the drug. Overall, these data provide important insights for clinicians managing patients with PBC and contribute to the ongoing scientific debate about the effectiveness/safety profile of this drug

Toxicity in Uremia 2. Correlation between PTH Levels and Impaired Aspecific Immunity

The role of PTH in depressing polynuclear leucocyte (PMN) phagocytosis in uremia was investigated. The hydrophobicity and phagocytic activity of normal PMN was tested in presence of uremic patients’ serum with low (Group A) or high (Group B) levels of plasma PTH. The PMN phagocytic index was lowered by serum of both groups, but more in presence of Group B serum (p A vs B &lt; 0.002). Similarly, the contact angle of cells was affected more in presence of serum of patients with high PTH levels (p B vs A &lt; 0.003; p B vs C &lt; 0.002). </jats:p

Plant LRR proteins: Role in development and defense

Journal of Biological Research (supplemento

Transcriptional activity of human endogenous retrovirus in Albanian children with autism spectrum disorders

Recent studies suggest that autism spectrum disorders (ASD) result from interactions between genetic and environmental factors, whose possible links could be represented by epigenetic mechanisms. Here, we investigated the transcriptional activity of three human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) families, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from Albanian ASD children, by quantitative real-time PCR. We aimed to confirm the different expression profile already found in Italian ASD children, and to highlight any social and family health condition emerging from information gathered through a questionnaire, to be included among environmental risk factors. The presence of increased HERV-H transcriptional activity in all autistic patients could be understood as a constant epigenetic imprinting of the disease, potentially useful for early diagnosis and for the development of effective novel therapeutic strategies

Transcriptional activity of human endogenous retrovirus in Albanian children with autism spectrum disorders

Recent studies suggest that autism spectrum disorders (ASD) result from interactions between genetic and environmental factors, whose possible links could be represented by epigenetic mechanisms. Here, we investigated the transcriptional activity of three human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) families, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from Albanian ASD children, by quantitative real-time PCR. We aimed to confirm the different expression profile already found in Italian ASD children, and to highlight any social and family health condition emerging from information gathered through a questionnaire, to be included among environmental risk factors. The presence of increased HERV-H transcriptional activity in all autistic patients could be understood as a constant epigenetic imprinting of the disease, potentially useful for early diagnosis and for the development of effective novel therapeutic strategies