Roadside LiDAR Assisted Cooperative Localization for Connected Autonomous Vehicles

Advancements in LiDAR technology have led to more cost-effective production while simultaneously improving precision and resolution. As a result, LiDAR has become integral to vehicle localization, achieving centimeter-level accuracy through techniques like Normal Distributions Transform (NDT) and other advanced 3D registration algorithms. Nonetheless, these approaches are reliant on high-definition 3D point cloud maps, the creation of which involves significant expenditure. When such maps are unavailable or lack sufficient features for 3D registration algorithms, localization accuracy diminishes, posing a risk to road safety. To address this, we proposed to use LiDAR-equipped roadside unit and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communication to accurately estimate the connected autonomous vehicle's position and help the vehicle when its self-localization is not accurate enough. Our simulation results indicate that this method outperforms traditional NDT scan matching-based approaches in terms of localization accuracy.Comment: Accepted by 2023 International Conference on Intelligent Computing and its Emerging Application

PANC Study (Pancreatitis: A National Cohort Study): national cohort study examining the first 30 days from presentation of acute pancreatitis in the UK

Abstract Background Acute pancreatitis is a common, yet complex, emergency surgical presentation. Multiple guidelines exist and management can vary significantly. The aim of this first UK, multicentre, prospective cohort study was to assess the variation in management of acute pancreatitis to guide resource planning and optimize treatment. Methods All patients aged greater than or equal to 18 years presenting with acute pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria, from March to April 2021 were eligible for inclusion and followed up for 30 days. Anonymized data were uploaded to a secure electronic database in line with local governance approvals. Results A total of 113 hospitals contributed data on 2580 patients, with an equal sex distribution and a mean age of 57 years. The aetiology was gallstones in 50.6 per cent, with idiopathic the next most common (22.4 per cent). In addition to the 7.6 per cent with a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, 20.1 per cent of patients had a previous episode of acute pancreatitis. One in 20 patients were classed as having severe pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria. The overall mortality rate was 2.3 per cent at 30 days, but rose to one in three in the severe group. Predictors of death included male sex, increased age, and frailty; previous acute pancreatitis and gallstones as aetiologies were protective. Smoking status and body mass index did not affect death. Conclusion Most patients presenting with acute pancreatitis have a mild, self-limiting disease. Rates of patients with idiopathic pancreatitis are high. Recurrent attacks of pancreatitis are common, but are likely to have reduced risk of death on subsequent admissions. </jats:sec

The effect of energy prices on energy consumption efficiency in the petrochemical industry in Iran

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of energy prices on consumption energy consumption efficiency in the petrochemical industry in Iran during the period 1994–2012. Also, in order to avoid the bias (bias, error) omitted variables, a number of determinants of energy consumption efficiency, i.e. the ratio of workforce to energy, the ratio of capital to total energy consumption, the price of labor, cost of capital and technology are used within the framework of an econometric model. For this purpose, based on the Cobb-Douglas production function, extended average energy consumption efficiency in the petrochemical industry is measured. Then, using the approach ARDL (Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model), the effect of explanatory variables on the dependent variable has been analyzed. The results show that energy consumption efficiency index in the petrochemical industry of Iran has a long-term trend growing; however, this index has been relatively high volatility. In addition, according to the findings, energy prices had a significant and positive effect on energy consumption efficiency. Also, the ratio of workforce to total energy consumption, the ratio of capital to total energy consumption and the price of capital and technology have a significant and positive effect on total energy consumption efficiency in the petrochemical industry. Keywords: Energy consumption efficiency, Energy prices, Petrochemical industry, ARDL, Mode

A voyage of discovering the impacts of teacher immunity and emotion regulation on professional identity, autonomy, and work motivation in Iranian EFL landscape

Abstract The literature has widely recognized the significance of examining the influence of teacher professional identity (TPI), teacher autonomy (TA), and teacher work motivation (TWM) on teacher well-being. However, there is a noticeable gap in the research regarding the role of teacher immunity (TI) and teacher emotion regulation (TER) in TPI, TA, TWM among English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers. In light of this gap, the present study aimed to investigate the association between TI and TER with TPI, TA, and TWM of EFL teachers. A sample of 433 EFL teachers completed the Language Teacher Immunity Instrument, the Language Teacher Emotion Regulation Inventory, the Teacher Professional Identity Scale, the Teacher Autonomy Questionnaire, and the Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling were conducted to analyze the data. Findings disclosed that TI and TER were strong predictor of TPI, TA, and TWM among the EFL teachers. The study concludes by offering some pedagogical implications for different stakeholders and discussing potential areas of research that can be developed based on the findings

The Effect of Captopril on Impaired Wound Healing in Experimental Diabetes

We aimed to investigate whether oral administration of captopril modulate wound healing, nitric oxide (NO), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration in wound fluid of diabetic rats. 48 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided in four groups (n=12). The 36 rats were rendered diabetic by streptozotocin. The animals of the first and second groups received 25 and 50 mg/kg/day captopril, respectively, (DM-cap25 and DM-cap50). The animals of the third group were treated by distilled water (DM-control). Control rats had no intervention. The wound fluid level of NO and VEGF were measured. Wound specimens were investigated histopathologically. At the 5th day, there was significantly more NOx in wound fluid of DM-cap25 compared to other groups. At the 7th day, both captopril-treated groups had more NOx in wound fluid compared to other groups. At the 11th day, both captopril-treated groups had more NOx in wound fluid compared to DM-control group. VEGF concentration was significantly higher in both captopril-treated groups versus DM-control group (P<.05). There were significant higher wound healing scores in captopril-treated groups compared with DM-control group (P<.05). These results suggest that captopril might be useful in diabetic wound healing

Multigene typing of Giardia Duodenalis isolated from tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis subjects.

Giardia duodenalis is a cryptic protozoan, which has eight assemblages (A-H). Assemblages A and B are the main genotypes reported from humans with probable anthroponotic and zoonotic transmission. The current study aimed to characterize G. duodenalis assemblages in tuberculosis (TB) patients and healthy subjects using multilocus genotyping (MLG). Thirty Giardia-positive stool samples, which were obtained from TB patients and healthy subjects were included in the study. After total DNA extraction, three β-giardin (bg), triosephosphate isomerase (tpi), glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) genes were amplified and sequenced. Obtained sequences were compared to the GenBank database to characterize assemblages. Phylogenetic analysis using Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Tamura 3-parameter was performed for each gene. From 30 Giardia-positive subjects, 17 (57%) and 13 (43%) were from healthy and TB-infected subjects, respectively. There was no significant co-existence of Giardia and tuberculosis (P-value = 0.051). In addition, 14 (46.7%) and 16 (53.3%) of Giardia isolates were from asymptomatic and symptomatic subjects, respectively. PCR amplification was successful in 25 single samples (83.3%) consisted of 20 for tpi, 15 for bg, and 13 for gdh genes. Accordingly, 13/25 (52%) and 8/25 (32%) belonged to assemblage A and assemblages B, respectively, whereas 4/25 (16%) were either assemblage A or B with different genes at the same time. Significant correlation between assemblages and TB, age, and symptoms was not seen. The phylogenetic analyses represented no separation based on TB and gastrointestinal symptoms. Assemblage A was the predominant genotype in samples. The high frequency of assemblage AII indicated importance of anthroponotic transmission of Giardia in both healthy and TB patients. In addition, considering the exclusive reports of sub-assemblage AIII in wild ruminants, the presence of AIII in the current study have to be carefully interpreted. The inconsistency between the assemblage results of either bg or gdh loci with tpi gene signifies the insufficiency of single gene analysis and the necessity for MLG in molecular epidemiology of G. duodenalis

Multigene typing of Giardia Duodenalis isolated from tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis subjects

Giardia duodenalis is a cryptic protozoan, which has eight assemblages (A-H). Assemblages A and B are the main genotypes reported from humans with probable anthroponotic and zoonotic transmission. The current study aimed to characterize G. duodenalis assemblages in tuberculosis (TB) patients and healthy subjects using multilocus genotyping (MLG). Thirty Giardia-positive stool samples, which were obtained from TB patients and healthy subjects were included in the study. After total DNA extraction, three β-giardin (bg), triosephosphate isomerase (tpi), glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) genes were amplified and sequenced. Obtained sequences were compared to the GenBank database to characterize assemblages. Phylogenetic analysis using Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Tamura 3-parameter was performed for each gene. From 30 Giardia-positive subjects, 17 (57%) and 13 (43%) were from healthy and TB-infected subjects, respectively. There was no significant co-existence of Giardia and tuberculosis (P-value = 0.051). In addition, 14 (46.7%) and 16 (53.3%) of Giardia isolates were from asymptomatic and symptomatic subjects, respectively. PCR amplification was successful in 25 single samples (83.3%) consisted of 20 for tpi, 15 for bg, and 13 for gdh genes. Accordingly, 13/25 (52%) and 8/25 (32%) belonged to assemblage A and assemblages B, respectively, whereas 4/25 (16%) were either assemblage A or B with different genes at the same time. Significant correlation between assemblages and TB, age, and symptoms was not seen. The phylogenetic analyses represented no separation based on TB and gastrointestinal symptoms. Assemblage A was the predominant genotype in samples. The high frequency of assemblage AII indicated importance of anthroponotic transmission of Giardia in both healthy and TB patients. In addition, considering the exclusive reports of sub-assemblage AIII in wild ruminants, the presence of AIII in the current study have to be carefully interpreted. The inconsistency between the assemblage results of either bg or gdh loci with tpi gene signifies the insufficiency of single gene analysis and the necessity for MLG in molecular epidemiology of G. duodenalis

Isolation and identification of potentially pathogenic free-living amoeba in drinking, surface, and stagnant water sources from Alborz Province, Iran

Free-living amoebas (FLAs) can cause neurological and ocular complications in humans. Water supplies play a critical role in transmitting FLAs to humans. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of FLAs in various aquatic sources including drinking water, stagnant water, and surface water in Alborz province, north half of Iran, using morphological and molecular techniques. A total of 70 water samples were collected from 34 drinking waters, 23 surface waters, and 13 stagnant waters. Filtration and cultivation were employed to isolate FLAs. PCR assay was applied by using the genus-specific primers on positive samples. Pathogenicity tests (osmo- and thermo-tolerance properties) were performed for Acanthamoeba spp., positive sample. Considering the morphological criteria, four positive samples of Acanthamoeba sp., three Vermamoeba sp., two mixed Vermamoeba sp. with Vahlkamfiids, and one mixed Acanthamoeba sp. with Vahlkamfiids were isolated. Five Acanthamoeba sp. isolates were amplified using the JDP primer pairs. Among them, two genotypes, T4 (three isolates) and T5 (two isolates) corresponding to A. lenticulata, were identified. Four V. vermiformis samples were confirmed using the sequencing. This study highlighted the occurrence of potentially pathogenic waterborne FLAs in water habitats associated with high human activity. The results of such research on the prevalence of FLAs, as a human hazard, should be communicated to health policymakers

Molecular analysis of internal transcribed spacer 2 of Dicrocoelium dendriticum isolated from cattle, sheep, and goat in Iran

Abstract Background Dicrocoelium dendriticum is a broadly distributed zoonotic helminth, which is mainly reported from domesticated and wild ruminants. There is little data covering the molecular features of this trematode; therefore, current study aimed to molecularly analyze D. dendriticum in livestock. Methods Totally, 23 samples of D. dendriticum were collected from cattle, sheep, and goat from Ilam, Lorestan, and Khuzestan, three west and south-west provinces of Iran from February to August 2018. After genomic DNA extraction, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 2 fragment was amplified and sequenced in samples. To investigate genetic variations through the ITS 2 fragment of obtained D. dendriticum, phylogenetic tree and network analysis were employed. Results All 23 samples were successfully amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic tree showed that our samples were clearly grouped in a clade together with reference sequences. There was no grouping based on either geographical regions or hosts. Network analysis confirmed the phylogenetic findings and showed the presence of nine distinct haplotypes, while our samples together most of sequences, which were previously submitted to the GenBank, were grouped in the Hap1. Conclusions Our findings indicated that although ITS 2 fragment discriminate D. dendriticum, this fragment is not suitable to study intra-species genetic variations. Therefore, exploring and describing new genetic markers could be more appropriate to provide new data about the genetic distribution of this trematode

The Effect of Preoperative Melatonin on Nuclear Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 Activation in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery

During and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), oxidative stress occurs. Finding an effective way to improveantioxidant response is important in CABG surgery. It has been shown that patients with coronary heart disease have a low Melatonin production rate. The present study aimed to investigate the effects ofMelatoninon nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2) activity in patients undergoing CABG surgery. Thirty volunteers undergoing CABG were randomized to receive 10 mg oral Melatonin (Melatonin group, ) or placebo (placebo group, ) before sleeping for 1 month before surgery. The activatedNrf2 was measured twice by DNA-based ELISA method in the nuclear extract of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients before aortic clumps and 45 minutes after CABG operation. Melatonin administration was associated with a significantincrease in both plasma levels of Melatonin and Nrf2 concentration in Melatonin group compared to placebo group, respectively ( pmol/L, versus pmol/L, , ). The findings of the present study provide preliminary data suggesting that Melatoninmay play a significant role in the potentiation of the antioxidant defense and attenuate cellular damages resulting from CABG surgery via theNrf2 pathway