Docking automation related technology, Phase 2 report

This report generalizes the progress for Phase II of the Docking Automated Related Technologies task component within the Modular Artillery Ammunition Delivery System (MAADS) technology demonstrator of the Future Armored Resupply Vehicle (FARV) project. This report also covers development activity at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) during the period from January to July 1994

Integration of palliative care into standard oncology care: American society of clinical oncology clinical practice guideline update

Purpose To provide evidence-based recommendations to oncology clinicians, patients, family and friend caregivers, and palliative care specialists to update the 2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) provisional clinical opinion (PCO) on the integration of palliative care into standard oncology care for all patients diagnosed with cancer. Methods ASCO convened an Expert Panel of members of the ASCO Ad Hoc Palliative Care Expert Panel to develop an update. The 2012 PCO was based on a review of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) by the National Cancer Institute Physicians Data Query and additional trials. The panel conducted an updated systematic review seeking randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews, and metaanalyses, as well as secondary analyses of RCTs in the 2012 PCO, published from March 2010 to January 2016. Results The guideline update reflects changes in evidence since the previous guideline. Nine RCTs, one quasiexperimental trial, and five secondary analyses from RCTs in the 2012 PCO on providing palliative care services to patients with cancer and/or their caregivers, including family caregivers, were found to inform the update. Recommendations Inpatients and outpatients with advanced cancer should receive dedicated palliative care services, early in the disease course, concurrent with active treatment. Referral of patients to interdisciplinary palliative care teams is optimal, and services may complement existing programs. Providers may refer family and friend caregivers of patients with early or advanced cancer to palliative care services

Crusader Automated Docking System Phase 3 report

The US Army is developing the next generation of battlefield artillery vehicles, including an advanced, self-propelled howitzer and a companion resupply vehicle. The resupply vehicle is intended to rendezvous with the howitzer near the battlefront and to upload ammunition to the howitzer. The Army has recommended that the vehicles incorporate robotics to increase safety, by allowing the crew to remain inside their vehicles during resupply operations. Oak Ridge National Laboratory has developed an autonomous docking system for a 6-D.F. robotic, ammunition transfer arm. The docking system augments the operator`s abilities by determining the position and orientation (pose) of a docking port. The pose is the location of the x, y, and z reference axes in 3-D space; and the orientation is the rotations--roll, pitch, and yaw--about those axes. Bye precisely determining the pose of the docking port, the robot can be instructed to move to the docking position without operator intervention. The system uses a video camera and frame grabber to digitize images of the special docking port. Custom algorithms were developed to recognize the port in the camera image, to determine the pose from its image features, and to distribute the results to the robot control computer. The system is loosely coupled to the robot and can be easily adapted to different mechanical configurations. The system has successfully demonstrated autonomous docking on a 24-in. tabletop robot and a 12-ft ammunition resupply robot. The update rate, measurement accuracy, continuous operation, and accuracy with obstructed view have been determined experimentally

Apolipoprotein H (beta-2-glycoprotein I) polymorphism in Asians.

Human Biology644617-62

Apolipoprotein H polymorphism and serum lipoprotein and apolipoprotein levels in two Asian populations.

Ethnicity & disease33250-25

PAR2 expression in peripheral blood monocytes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

<b>OBJECTIVES:</b> Proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR(2)) is a G protein-coupled receptor activated by serine proteinases with proinflammatory activity. A study was undertaken to investigate the presence and functio©nal significance of PAR(2) expression on rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-derived leucocyte subsets.<p></p> <b>METHODS:</b> Venous blood was obtained from patients with RA and osteoarthritis (OA) as well as healthy control subjects. Surface expression of PAR(2) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was analysed by flow cytometry and interleukin 6 (IL-6) generation by ELISA.<p></p> <b>RESULTS:</b> Patients with RA had elevated but variable surface expression of PAR(2) on CD14+ monocytes compared with control subjects (median (1st to 3rd quartiles) 1.76% (0.86-4.10%) vs 0.06% (0.03-0.81%), p<0.0001). CD3+ T cells showed a similar pattern with significantly higher PAR(2) expression in patients with RA compared with controls (3.05% (0.36-11.82%) vs 0.08% (0.02-0.28%), p<0.0001). For both subsets, PAR(2) expression was significantly higher (p<0.00001) in patients with high levels of disease activity: PAR(2) expression for both CD14+ and CD3+ cells correlated to C reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Furthermore, in a cohort of patients with newly diagnosed RA, elevated PAR(2) expression in both CD14+ and CD3+ cells was significantly reduced 3 months after methotrexate or sulfasalazine treatment and this reduction correlated significantly with the reduction in the 28-joint Disease Activity Scale score (p<0.05). PAR(2) expression on cells from patients with OA was low, similar to levels seen in control subjects. Generation of IL-6 by monocytes in response to a selective PAR(2) agonist was significantly greater in patients with RA than in patients with OA and control subjects (p<0.05).<p></p> <b>CONCLUSIONS:</b> These findings are consistent with a pathogenic role for PAR(2) in RA