User evaluation of comfortable deceleration profiles for highly automated driving: Findings from a test track study

As automated vehicles advance and become more widespread, it is increasingly important to ensure optimal driving comfort for passengers. Recent research has focused on developing driving styles for automated vehicles that are perceived to be most comfortable. However, there is still little understanding of whether, and how, possible driving styles need to be adjusted for specific traffic scenarios. In this study, 36 participants experienced three different deceleration profiles (a linear deceleration profile ‘One-Step’, and two versions of stepwise deceleration profiles ‘Two-Step V1 and V2’) across different driving scenarios (deceleration before curves, approaching a speed-limit sign, and a stop sign). Deceleration profiles were rated by participants and the impact of non-driving related activities on driving comfort was investigated. Results showed a positive rating for all deceleration profiles in terms of comfort. For decelerations to a standstill at a Stop Sign, participants seemed to prefer the One-Step approach, in which there is a continuous, and constant deceleration. However, participants described the Two-Step V1 as a gentle and calmer approach and ranked it more frequently as a personal favourite than the One-Step profile or the Two-Step V2 profile. The visual distraction of the passenger through a non-driving activity had no impact on passenger comfort or profile preferences for the scenarios tested within this study. Nonetheless, participants reported perceiving a lower intensity of longitudinal vehicle movements when visually distracted during the drive. The results of the study provide insights into the design and implementation of comfortable deceleration profiles

Epigenetic perturbations in the pathogenesis of mustard toxicity; hypothesis and preliminary results

Among the most readily available chemical warfare agents, sulfur mustard (SM), also known as mustard gas, has been the most widely used chemical weapon. SM causes debilitating effects that can leave an exposed individual incapacitated for days to months; therefore delayed SM toxicity is of much greater importance than its ability to cause lethality. Although not fully understood, acute toxicity of SM is related to reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, oxidative stress, DNA damage, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activation and energy depletion within the affected cell. Therefore several antioxidants and PARP inhibitors show beneficial effects against acute SM toxicity. The delayed toxicity of SM however, currently has no clear mechanistic explanation. One third of the 100,000 Iranian casualties are still suffering from the detrimental effects of SM in spite of the extensive treatment. We, therefore, made an attempt whether epigenetic aberrations may contribute to pathogenesis of mustard poisoning. Preliminary evidence reveals that mechlorethamine (a nitrogen mustard derivative) exposure may not only cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, but epigenetic perturbations as well. Epigenetic refers to the study of changes that influence the phenotype without causing alteration of the genotype. It involves changes in the properties of a cell that are inherited but do not involve a change in DNA sequence. It is now known that in addition to mutations, epimutations contribute to a variety of human diseases. Under light of preliminary results, the current hypothesis will focus on epigenetic regulations to clarify mustard toxicity and the use of drugs to correct possible epigenetic defects

Modeling of X-ray resonance lines emitted from laser produced copper plasma

In this study, x-rays emitted from Ne-like and F-like copper plasmas have been modeled by modifying the original atomic and hydrodynamic EHYBRID code. X-ray resonance lines between 8 Å and 13 Å, and X-ray intensities from free-free and free-bound emission with the Si-, Al-, Mg-, Na-, Ne- and F–like ions emitted from copper plasmas created by KrF laser pulses have been modeled using single pulse configurations. Laser energy to x-ray energy conversion efficiencies have been calculated. For example; 0.195 % x-ray conversion efficiency is calculated from copper plasma created using a 249 nm, 25 ns pulse duration KrF laser pulse focused to $2\times 10^{13}$ W/cm$^{2}$ in good agreement with published experimental measurements. For example, x-ray energy conversion efficiency for $2\times 10^{13}$ W/cm$^{2}$ and 18 ns pulse duration is calculated as 1.29 % over 2$\rm\pi$ sr

Green alcoholic solvent and UAE extraction of oleuropein from the Olea europaea L.leaves: Experimental design, optimization, and comparison with Pharmacopoeia method

Solvent extraction and UAE were studied for the extraction of the polyphenolic compounds from the olive leaf in MeOH/H 2 O and EtOH/H 2 O solvent systems. Box Wilson-CCRD design was used under RSM for the experimental design of alcoholic solvent extraction. Multi-response optimization was solved with the help of pareto areas and optimal input variable values were determined by the desirability function, optimization by fuzzy similar precedable ratio method. It is seen that the developed solvent extraction methods are more advantageous to the European Pharmacopoeia method for especially oleuropein and the other phenolics which have synergetic effect in olive leaf extract. © 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Potential benefits of combining two long-acting injectable antipsychotic: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the combination of two long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIA) in psychiatric disorders, especially in schizophrenia.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-three pa-tients treated with dual LAIA were included in the study by retrospective screening from the hospital registration system. The present study was designed as an observational, retrospective, naturalistic mirror-image study. The number of hospitalizations before and after switch-ing to dual LAIA was compared in patients who received oral antipsychotics and single LAIA during the study period. In addition, it was analyzed which was the preferred dual antipsychotic combination.RESULTS: Of the patients, 44.6% had schizophrenia, 41.0% had schizoaffective disorder, and 14.4% had other psychiatric disorders. The number of patients receiving oral treatment prior to dual LAIA use was 80 (96.4%). Data on dual LAIA regimens showed that 31.3% were receiving paliperidone and aripiprazole, 24.1% were receiving paliperidone and flupenthixol, 18.1% were receiving paliperidone and zuclopenthixol, and 26.5% were receiving the other combinations. After dual LAIA treatment, there was a significant decrease in the number of hospitalizations compared to before (from 5.95 to 0.99, p0.001). In addition, while the number of patients who did not require hospitalization in the pre-treatment period was 10.8%, it reached 48.1% in the post-treatment period (p0.001). No significant adverse effect related to the use of dual LAIA was observed in any patient during the treatment period. CONCLUSIONS: The use of dual LAIA instead of oral antipsychotics or single LAIA in chronic psychotic patients with poor social support and irregular medication use is thought to reduce hospitalization and related treatment costs and regularize medication use