Robust and Economical Autonomous Navigation via Advanced Bayesian Methods

A 2009 NASA SBIR grant awarded to Autonomous Exploration, Inc., was partially used to fund students at the University at Albany to help research whether autonomous navigation systems can be prepared at a much lower cost than is currently being done. Expensive and bulky sensors (the basis of current-generation navigation systems) can be avoided by using commercially available low-cost sensors; the disadvantages of these low-cost sensors can be eluded by using novel data-processing techniques such as Bayesian analysis. Integration of these methods can lead to low-cost navigation systems, and hence, rovers. Potential applications include extra-planetary surface exploration as well as military deployment in situations where, at present, compulsory human supervision wastes expensive resources

Saturation of adrenomedullin receptors plays an important role in reducing pulmonary clearance of adrenomedullin during the late stage of sepsis

AbstractAdrenomedullin (AM) is a potent vasodilator that plays a major role in the cardiovascular response during the progression of sepsis. Although pulmonary clearance of AM (i.e., the primary site of AM clearance) is reduced during the late, hypodynamic stage of sepsis, the role of AM receptors under such conditions remains unclear. This study was carried out to test the hypothesis that saturation of AM receptors is responsible for the decreased clearance of AM in the lungs during sepsis. Polymicrobial sepsis was induced in male adult rats by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). At 20 h after CLP (i.e., the late phase), 125I-labeled rat AM was administered through the jugular vein, both with (+) and without (−) pre-injection of the human AM fragment AM22–52 (an AM receptor antagonist). Pulmonary tissue samples were harvested after 30 min and the radioactivity was determined. In addition, lung levels of AM were determined at 5 and 20 h after CLP by radioimmunoassay. Alterations in gene expression of the recently identified AM receptor subunits calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR) and receptor activity modifying protein-2 and -3 (RAMP-2 and -3) were assessed in the lungs by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) at 5 and 20 h after CLP. The results indicate that there was a significant decrease in pulmonary [125I]AM clearance at 20 h in −AM22–52 CLP animals. Lung clearance in +AM22–52 sham animals was significantly lower than in −AM22–52 sham animals and was not statistically different from the −AM22–52 CLP group. There was no statistical difference between +AM22–52 and −AM22–52 CLP groups. However, there was a significant increase in lung AM levels at 20 but not 5 h after CLP. In addition, RAMP-3 expression was significantly upregulated at 5 but not 20 h after CLP. There were no alterations in the expression of CRLR or RAMP-2 at either time point. These results suggest that pulmonary AM receptors become saturated as more AM enters the bloodstream, thereby reducing the ability of the lungs to clear this peptide during late sepsis. Early upregulation of RAMP-3 may be a compensatory mechanism to help clear the upregulated AM from the bloodstream. The lack of upregulation of RAMP-3 during late sepsis could also contribute to the decreased clearance observed during this phase

Bench-to-bedside review: Latest results in hemorrhagic shock

Hemorrhagic shock is a leading cause of death in trauma patients worldwide. Bleeding control, maintenance of tissue oxygenation with fluid resuscitation, coagulation support, and maintenance of normothermia remain mainstays of therapy for patients with hemorrhagic shock. Although now widely practised as standard in the USA and Europe, shock resuscitation strategies involving blood replacement and fluid volume loading to regain tissue perfusion and oxygenation vary between trauma centers; the primary cause of this is the scarcity of published evidence and lack of randomized controlled clinical trials. Despite enormous efforts to improve outcomes after severe hemorrhage, novel strategies based on experimental data have not resulted in profound changes in treatment philosophy. Recent clinical and experimental studies indicated the important influences of sex and genetics on pathophysiological mechanisms after hemorrhage. Those findings might provide one explanation why several promising experimental approaches have failed in the clinical arena. In this respect, more clinically relevant animal models should be used to investigate pathophysiology and novel treatment approaches. This review points out new therapeutic strategies, namely immunomodulation, cardiovascular maintenance, small volume resuscitation, and so on, that have been introduced in clinics or are in the process of being transferred from bench to bedside. Control of hemorrhage in the earliest phases of care, recognition and monitoring of individual risk factors, and therapeutic modulation of the inflammatory immune response will probably constitute the next generation of therapy in hemorrhagic shock. Further randomized controlled multicenter clinical trials are needed that utilize standardized criteria for enrolling patients, but existing ethical requirements must be maintained

Hormônios sexuais influenciam a resposta ao trauma e à sepsis: possíveis soluções terapêuticas

Uma série de estudos clínicos e experimentais demonstram a existência de dimorfismo sexual das respostas imunológicas e orgânicas, bem como da suscetibilidade e morbidade em relação ao choque, ao trauma e à sepse. Respostas imunes celularmente mediadas apresentam-se deprimidas em machos em resposta ao binômio trauma-hemorragia, mas conservados/enaltecidos em fêmeas em proestro. Adicionalmente demonstra-se que os hormônios sexuais são responsáveis por esta dicomotomia de resposta sexualmente específica, em condições cardiovasculares adversas. Estudos específicos indicam que os andrógenos produzem imunodepressão pós-trauma hemorragia em machos. Em contraste, esteróides sexuais femininos parecem exibir propriedades imunoprotetoras após episódios de trauma com ou sem perda importante de sangue. No terreno dos mecanismos subjacentes, foram identificados receptores para hormônios sexuais em várias células do sistema imunológico, sugerindo a existência de efeitos diretos destes hormônios sobre tais células. Alternativamente, observam efeitos indiretos de hormônios sexuais tais como modulação das respostas cardiovasculares das enzimas sintetizadores de andrógeno e estrógeno, que podem contribuir para as estas respostas sexualmente diferenciadas. Estudos recentes indicam que os hormônios sexuais, como por exemplo a dehidroepiandrosterona também modulam a função de células mononucleares da série branca em pacientes cirúrgicos. Assim, as propriedades imunomodulatórias de hormônios sexuais/antagonistas de receptores/enzimas sintetizadores de esteróides após a ocorrência de trauma ou de hemorragia sugerem o caminho para novas estratégias terapêuticas para o tratamento de imunodepressão em pacientes cirúrgicos.Several clinical and experimental studies have demonstrated gender dimorphism in immune and organ responsiveness and in the susceptibility to and morbidity from shock, trauma, and sepsis. In this respect, cell-mediated immune responses have been shown to be depressed in males following trauma-hemorrhage, whereas they were aintained/enhanced in proestrus females. Furthermore, sex hormones have been shown to be responsible for this gender-specific immune response following adverse circulatory conditions. More specifically, studies indicate that androgens produce immunodepression following trauma-hemorrhage in males. In contrast, female sex steroids appear to exhibit immunoprotective properties following trauma and severe blood loss. With regard to the underlying mechanisms, receptors for sex hormones have been identified on various immune cells suggesting direct effects of these hormones on the immune cells. Alternatively, indirect effects of sex hormones, ie, modulation of cardiovascular responses or androgen- and estrogen-synthesizing enzymes, might contribute to gender-specific immune responses. Recent studies indicate that sex hormones, eg, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), also modulate the function of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in surgical patients. Thus, the immunomodulatory properties of sex hormones/receptor antagonists/sex steroid synthesizing enzymes following trauma-hemorrhage suggests novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of immunodepression in surgical patients

PREVALENCE OF TRICHOMONIASIS IN DOMESTIC AND WILD PIGEONS AND ITS EFFECTS ON HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS

The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of trichomoniasis and its effect on some blood parameters in pigeons. A total of 100 samples from the pigeons (50 wild and 50 domestic) were collected during the months of March and April 2005. Higher prevalence (P<0.05) was recorded in wild pigeons (60%) than in domestic pigeon (26%). The overall prevalence recorded was 43%, being non significantly higher in April (56%) than in March (30%). In infected pigeons, there was significant (P<0.05) decrease in hemoglobin concentration number of monocytes packed cell volume, body weight, than healthy birds. Likewise, the values of total leukocyte count, lymphocytes and eosinophils were higher significantly (P<0.05) in infected pigeons than the healthy ones. While, no significant difference was observed for heterophils count when infected and healthy birds were compared. It was concluded that trichomonad infection is quite common in wild, as well as in domestic, pigeons under the prevailing cage system

L-arginine: A unique amino acid for improving depressed wound immune function following hemorrhage

Objective: To determine whether L-arginine has any salutary effects on wound immune cell function following trauma-hemorrhage. Background. Depressed wound immune function contributes to an increased incidence of wound infections following hemorrhage. Although administration of L-arginine has been shown to restore depressed cell-mediated immune responses following hemorrhage potentially by maintaining organ blood flow, it remains unknown whether Larginine has any salutary effects on the depressed local immune response at the wound site. Methods: Male mice were subjected to a midline laparotomy and polyvinyl sponges were implanted subcutaneously in the abdominal wound prior to hemorrhage (35 +/- 5 mm Hg for 90 min and resuscitation) or sham operation. During resuscitation mice received 300 mg/kg body weight L-arginine or saline (vehicle). Sponges were harvested 24 h thereafter, wound fluid collected and wound immune cells cultured for 24 h in the presence of LPS. Pro- (IL-1beta, IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines were determined in the supernatants and the wound fluid. In addition, wounds were stained for IL-6 immunohistochemically. In a separate set of animals, skin and muscle blood flow was determined by microspheres. Results: The capacity of wound immune cells to release IL-1beta and IL-6 in vitro was significantly depressed in hemorrhaged mice receiving vehicle. Administration of L-arginine, however, improved wound immune cell function. In contrast, in vivo the increased IL-6 release at the wound site was decreased in L-arginine-treated mice following hemorrhage. Moreover, IL-10 levels were significantly increased in the wound fluid in hemorrhaged animals receiving L-arginine compared to vehicle-treated mice. In addition, the depressed skin and muscle blood flow after hemorrhage was restored by L-arginine. Conclusions: Thus, L-arginine might improve local wound cell function by decreasing the inflammatory response at the wound site. Since L-arginine protected wound immune cell function this amino acid might represent a novel and useful adjunct to fluid resuscitation for decreasing wound complications following hemorrhage. Copyright beta 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

Sex Hormones and Gender Effects following Trauma-Hemorrhage

Trauma is the leading cause of death in the industrialized world between the ages of one and 40. A number of risk factors including age and gender have been implicated in this regard. It is therefore not surprising that the majority of trauma victims are young males. Their mortality rate following trauma is not only higher compared to females, but they are also more prone to subsequent sepsis. Age and gender are therefore important factors in the prevalence of traumatic injury as well as in susceptibility to subsequent septic complications