Navigation infrastructure for people with disabilities

The importance of navigation support for people with disability has been demonstrated by convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This paper presents the navigation infrastructure for people with disabilities. The infrastructure includes map generation service, web interface, mobile services. Also we purpose method of target area examination by volunteers. Using a modified Openstreetmap road graph allows you to build more precise routes. Introduced classification of obstacles types allows you to identify problems in the path of a person with disabilities. Application of Dijkstra's-based algorithm with modified edge weights allows you to find safe traffic routes. The results of testing on the pilot region allow us to estimate the amount of work required to improve the quality of people's live with disabilities

"Accessibility passports" service in information environment for persons with disabilities

The paper describes development process of information environment for persons with disabilities. Introduction gives a base understanding of the project idea. The first section of the main part describes common infrastructure architecture. Services are divided on government and public. The public part is presented by various services, based on the information collected by government service. Government service is presented by information system “Accessibility passports”, which in details is described in second section of main part. The “Accessibility passports” is a service for initial collection of data about accessibility of the social infrastructure facilities for people with disabilities. In the last section of the main part presented a mathematical method for measuring level of accessibility of the social infrastructure facilities for people with disabilities. Method is based on probability theory and provide possibility for formal ranging of the social infrastructure facilities according to the level of accessibility for persons with limited mobility

"Accessibility Map" and "Social navigator" services for persons with disabilities

The paper describes development process of information environment for persons with disabilities. Introduction describes the aim and objectives of development, the results of evaluation of typical demands and user scenarios for persons with disabilities. The first section of the main part describes common applications architecture and utilized technologies. Both services use the same data model, which includes description of route parts and roads, as well as information about accessibility of objects stored in the database of “Accessibility Passports” service developed previously. The next section contains description of the development process. The user scenarios, service functions, the use of Geo2Tag platform and Open Street Map with its libraries are presented. In “Social navigator” service the routes are described as a graph with weighted edges, where the weight is the rate of accessibility of the path parts. The mathematical method for estimation of accessibility according to various types of ability restrictions was developed and implemented in the service. The method is based on graph theory and provides an approach to formal ranging of the routes according to the accessibility level of persons with limited mobility

The GPR120 agonist TUG‐891 promotes metabolic health by stimulating mitochondrial respiration in brown fat

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation stimulates energy expenditure in human adults, which makes it an attractive target to combat obesity and related disorders. Recent studies demonstrated a role for G protein‐coupled receptor 120 (GPR120) in BAT thermogenesis. Here, we investigated the therapeutic potential of GPR120 agonism and addressed GPR120‐mediated signaling in BAT. We found that activation of GPR120 by the selective agonist TUG‐891 acutely increases fat oxidation and reduces body weight and fat mass in C57Bl/6J mice. These effects coincided with decreased brown adipocyte lipid content and increased nutrient uptake by BAT, confirming increased BAT activity. Consistent with these observations, GPR120 deficiency reduced expression of genes involved in nutrient handling in BAT. Stimulation of brown adipocytes in vitro with TUG‐891 acutely induced O2 consumption, through GPR120‐dependent and GPR120‐independent mechanisms. TUG‐891 not only stimulated GPR120 signaling resulting in intracellular calcium release, mitochondrial depolarization, and mitochondrial fission, but also activated UCP1. Collectively, these data suggest that activation of brown adipocytes with the GPR120 agonist TUG‐891 is a promising strategy to increase lipid combustion and reduce obesity

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery