Processor-in-the-loop architecture design and experimental validation for an autonomous racing vehicle

Self-driving vehicles have experienced an increase in research interest in the last decades. Nevertheless, fully autonomous vehicles are still far from being a common means of transport. This paper presents the design and experimental validation of a processor-in-the-loop (PIL) architecture for an autonomous sports car. The considered vehicle is an all-wheel drive full-electric single-seater prototype. The retained PIL architecture includes all the modules required for autonomous driving at system level: environment perception, trajectory planning, and control. Specifically, the perception pipeline exploits obstacle detection algorithms based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the trajectory planning is based on a modified Rapidly-exploring Random Tree (RRT) algorithm based on Dubins curves, while the vehicle is controlled via a Model Predictive Control (MPC) strategy. The considered PIL layout is implemented firstly using a low-cost card-sized computer for fast code verification purposes. Furthermore, the proposed PIL architecture is compared in terms of performance to an alternative PIL using high-performance real-time target computing machine. Both PIL architectures exploit User Datagram Protocol (UDP) protocol to properly communicate with a personal computer. The latter PIL architecture is validated in real-time using experimental data. Moreover, they are also validated with respect to the general autonomous pipeline that runs in parallel on the personal computer during numerical simulation

Gender differences in body composition, dietary patterns, and physical activity: insights from a cross-sectional study

Introduction This study investigates the interplay between body composition, dietary patterns, and physical activity across genders, focusing on gender-specific differences in food preferences and eating behaviors. Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing targeted nutritional and lifestyle interventions.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,333 participants (58.7% female, 41.3% male), aged 18-65 years. Participants were categorized into tertiles based on their fat mass to fat-free mass (FM-to-FFM) ratio. Data on dietary choices, eating behaviors, and physical activity were collected and analyzed to identify gender-specific trends.Results Significant gender-specific differences were observed in food preferences and eating behaviors. Males experienced greater hunger in the late afternoon, while females felt more hunger in the morning. Males showed a preference for processed and red meats, whereas females preferred cooked vegetables. Eating behaviors such as meal skipping, uncontrolled eating, nocturnal eating, and taste preferences (sweet or salty) varied distinctly between FM-to-FFM tertiles and genders. Higher FM-to-FFM ratios correlated with lower physical activity levels, particularly in strength training and general sports engagement.Discussion These findings highlight the complex interactions between body composition, dietary habits, and lifestyle factors, emphasizing gender-specific differences. The results suggest that body composition and BMI significantly impact health-related behaviors, necessitating tailored interventions to address these differences and promote healthier lifestyles

The Impact of Diet and Physical Activity on Fat-to-Lean Mass Ratio

In this retrospective study, we evaluated the efficacy of a personalised low-calorie mediterranean diet (MD) in promoting fat mass (FM) reduction while preserving fat-free mass (FFM). this study involved 100 caucasian adults aged 18-65 years who followed a tailored low-calorie MD for two months. the total energy expenditure was assessed using a multi-sensor armband. the change in body composition (BC) was evaluated using the delta% FM-to-FFM ratio, calculated as the difference in the FM to FFM ratio before and after the diet, divided by the ratio before the diet, and multiplied by 100. A negative value indicates a greater decrease in FM than FFM, while a positive value suggests a greater increase in FM than FFM. this study demonstrated a significant FM reduction, with an average decrease of 5% (p < 0.001). however, the relationship between caloric reduction and the Delta% FM-to-FFM ratio showed a weak negative correlation (r = -0.03, p > 0.05). this suggests that the calorie deficit had a minimal direct impact on the BC changes. subjects over the age of 30 showed an increase in muscle mass, while younger subjects showed no significant changes. moreover, a direct correlation was observed between the changes in MET (metabolic equivalent of task) values and the Delta% FM-to-FFM ratio, indicating that improved average physical activity intensity positively influences BC. In the female subgroup, high protein intake, exercise intensity, and the duration of physical activity were positively correlated with an improvement in the delta% FM-to-FFM ratio. however, for individuals with BMI 20-25 kg/m(2), high fibre intake was surprisingly negatively correlated with the delta% FM-to-FFM ratio. this study underscores the intricate interplay between calorie restriction, physical activity intensity, and BC changes. It also suggests that individual factors, including age, gender, and BMI, may influence the response to a low-calorie MD. however, further prospective studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to confirm and expand upon these findings

Brain mapping-aided supratotal resection (Sptr) of brain tumors: The role of brain connectivity

Brain gliomas require a deep knowledge of their effects on brain connectivity. Understanding the complex relationship between tumor and functional brain is the preliminary and fundamental step for the subsequent surgery. The extent of resection (EOR) is an independent variable of surgical effectiveness and it correlates with the overall survival. Until now, great efforts have been made to achieve gross total resection (GTR) as the standard of care of brain tumor patients. However, high and low-grade gliomas have an infiltrative behavior and peritumoral white matter is often infiltrated by tumoral cells. According to these evidences, many efforts have been made to push the boundary of the resection beyond the contrast-enhanced lesion core on T1w MRI, in the so called supratotal resection (SpTR). SpTR is aimed to maximize the extent of resection and thus the overall survival. SpTR of primary brain tumors is a feasible technique and its safety is improved by intraoperative neuromonitoring and advanced neuroimaging. Only transient cognitive impairments have been reported in SpTR patients compared to GTR patients. Moreover, SpTR is related to a longer overall and progression-free survival along with preserving neuro-cognitive functions and quality of life

Gene/longevity association studies at four autosomal loci (REN, THO, PARP, SOD2)

The possibility that four loci (REN, THO, PARP, SOD2) are associated with longevity was explored by comparing the genotypic pools of subjects older than 100 years with those of younger subjects matched for sex and geographic area (northern and southern Italy). The markers (all located within the respective gene) were HUMREN4; HUMTHO1; HUMPARP (gt)845nt; SOD2(C/T)401nt. In order to reduce the number of genotypes, multiallelic polymorphisms were recoded as diallelic according to allele size and frequency patterns (small: S, and large: L, alleles). A significant loss of LL homozygous genotypes was found at the THO locus in male but not in female centenarians with respect to matched controls. On the other hand no significant difference was found between case/control genotypic frequencies at REN, PARP, SOD2 loci. The latter loci therefore do not affect inter-individual variability in life expectancy (at least in terms of qualitative variants associated with the tested markers). However, the data is consistent with an association between the THO locus and longevity

Mineralocorticoid receptor activation affects skeletal muscle development and metabolism

Background: It’s known that Mineralocorticoid Receptor (MR) activation affects adipocytes differentiation and function and we showed that MR antagonism is able to improve insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. Adipose tissue secretome shows a paracrine effect on vascular system and cardiac function, as well as on skeletal muscle metabolism. Interestingly, MR blockade is able to affect skeletal muscle metabolism, improving insulin signaling. In addition, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activation, through MR-dependent mechanisms, leads to skeletal muscle athrophy in mice. Purpose: Our aim is to evaluate a possible involvement of MR activation in regulat- ing skeletal muscle differentiation and function in vitro and in vivo. Methods: We investigated the involevement of MR in regulating murine skeletal muscle cells (C2C12) differentiation and we started to characterize the impact of adipose MR activation on skeletal muscle metabolic profile and development in a novel adipose-specific MR knockout (MRKO) mouse model. Results: We first characterized the ontogenensis of MR in a murine myoblast cell line (C2C12) by RT-PCR and western blot analyses in order to evaluate the expression of MR during myotubes differentiation in vitro. We observed an increase in MR protein expression in skeletal myotubes during differentiation (96h). To evaluate the effects of MR activity on C2C12 cells, we treated C2C12 myoblasts, after differentiation stimulus, with aldosterone (Aldo, 10-8 mol/L) for 6h and 24h and we observed that Aldo significantly reduced Heavy Chain Myosin (MHC) mRNA levels, suggesting that MR activity represses muscle cell differentiation. Such effect was also MR dependent, given that Spiro was able to revert such effect. We also analyzed skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity in vivo in MRKO mice eval- uating soleus muscle insulin receptor substarte-1, tyrosinephosphorylated IRS-1, GLUT4 levels mRNA expression and Akt phosphorylation. Interestingly, we observed improved soleus muscle insulin signaling parameters and systemic insulin sensitivity in MRKO mice compared to controls. Further studies are necessary to explore the effect of MR activation on skeletal muscle development in vivo. Conclusions: These data reveal a potential role of MR in modulating skeletal mus- cle differentiation and insulin sensitivity, which suggest a potential application of MR antagonists to improve skeletal muscle function

Adaptability and emotional, behavioural and cognitive aspects of self-regulated learning: Direct and indirect relations with academic achievement and life satisfaction

Background: Adaptability regulates individuals' cognitive, behavioural and emotional responses to new, unexpected and uncertain situations, but to date no study has analysed whether adaptability contemporarily favours cognitive, behavioural and emotional aspects of learning. Aims: This study aims to address this gap by examining (i) the direct relations between adaptability and achievement emotions, self-regulated learning strategies and academic self-efficacy and (ii) the direct and indirect relations between adaptability and academic achievement and life satisfaction through and over the other study-related factors. Sample: A total of 1083 students (415 males, M age = 13.37, SD age = 1.97, age range = 10–18) in grades 6–12 participated to the study. Method: Questionnaires were used to measure students' adaptability, positive and negative achievement emotions, self-regulated learning strategies, academic self-efficacy and life satisfaction. Schools provided grades obtained by each student at the end of the academic year. Results: A path analysis based on 1083 students (10–18 years old) confirmed that adaptability directly relates to the three study-related factors considered and to life satisfaction and indirectly relates to academic achievement and life satisfaction—through the mediation of the other variables. Conclusions: The results, discussed in accordance with the self-regulated learning theory, enlarge the nomological framework of adaptability and highlight its importance for emotional, behavioural and cognitive aspects of self-regulated learning